MHA Revokes Sonam Wangchuk’s Detention Order Under National Security Act

'Shri Sonam Wangchuk has already undergone nearly half of the period of detention under the said Act,' the MHA wrote.

The Wire Staff

'Shri Sonam Wangchuk has already undergone nearly half of the period of detention under the said Act,' the MHA wrote.

mha revokes sonam wangchuk’s detention order under national security act

A file photo from 2024 of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on hunger strike at Ladakh Bhavan in New Delhi. Photo: PTI.

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday (March 14) has revoked activist Sonam Wangchuk’s detention order under the National Security Act (NSA). The Supreme Court has been hearing his wife Gitanjali Angmo's petition challenging the detention since last September. The apex court is scheduled to hear the matter on March 17.

"Shri Sonam Wangchuk has already undergone nearly half of the period of detention under the said Act," the MHA said.

Wangchuk has been held under the NSA since September 26, two days after demonstrations in Ladakh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule protections turned violent and resulted in four deaths and left 90 injured.

The ministry added: "The government has been actively engaging with various stakeholders and community leaders in Ladakh with a view to addressing the aspirations and concerns of the people of the region."

Further, the MHA suggested that the "prevailing atmosphere of bandhs and protests has been detrimental to the peace-loving character of the society and has adversely affected various sections of the community, including students, job aspirants, businesses, tour operators and tourists and overall economy."

"The government remains committed to fostering an environment of peace, stability, and mutual trust in Ladakh so as to facilitate constructive and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders. In furtherance of this objective, and after due consideration, the government has decided to revoke the detention of Shri Sonam Wangchuk with immediate effect by exercising the powers available under the National Security Act," the ministry said.

Also read: Why Sonam Wangchuk Matters

The authorities have accused Wangchuk of instigating the unrest in Ladakh. His detention has drawn attention from human rights organisations worldwide, who have called for a review of the circumstances leading to his arrest.

In her plea, Angmo argued that the detention order was based on “stale FIRs, vague imputations, and speculative assertions”, had “no live or proximate connection” to the stated reasons for detention, and was therefore without “any legal or factual justification”.

This article went live on March fourteenth, two thousand twenty six, at ten minutes past twelve at noon.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.