Weeks after the arrest of prominent Ladakhi environmentalist and educator Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), his wife Gitanjali J. Angmo has emerged as the leading voice in the campaign for his release. Accusing authorities of unlawful detention and character assassination, Angmo has petitioned India’s top leadership and the Supreme Court. She called the case “an attack on peaceful advocacy and civil rights in Ladakh.”
Wangchuk, the founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) and a global award-winning innovator, was detained on September 26 following violent clashes during protests in Leh demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory. Subsequently, authorities later moved him to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan under NSA provisions.
Angmo’s Letter to the President
In a detailed letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Angmo expressed alarm over her husband’s health. Furthermore, She alleged that authorities had denied her regular communication and the chance to send essential medicines
“He is a teacher, an innovator, and an environmentalist—not a threat to national security,” Angmo wrote. Moreover, she added that Wangchuk’s detention “sends a chilling message to anyone who dares to speak for Ladakh’s fragile ecology and its people.”
Supreme Court Petition for Sonam Wangchuk
(telegraphindia.com)
On October 3, Angmo filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution before the Supreme Court of India. The petition challenges the legality of Wangchuk’s detention. Accordingly, the plea argues that the arrest violates Articles 14, 19, 21, and 22 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality, free expression, and personal liberty. The petition demands that the government furnish the grounds of detention, permit regular communication with family and counsel, and allow independent medical evaluation.
Angmo met Wangchuk on October 8 in Jodhpur Jail, her first meeting since his arrest. In a social media post, she described him as “resilient and unbroken.” She said his “spirit remains undaunted despite the isolation.” She also added that the legal team is preparing a detailed rebuttal to the detention order.
Government Response
Officials from the Ladakh Administration have maintained that they followed due process.
“The detention was made in accordance with law to prevent further escalation of unrest,” an official said. Additionally, he noted that authorities provided Wangchuk with access to medical care and family visits under supervision.
Authorities have accused Wangchuk of making “provocative speeches” and of “inciting unrest with external backing.” Angmo, however, has categorically denied these claims, calling them “blatant lies.”
Broader Significance
Wangchuk’s arrest has sparked a nationwide debate on the use of national security laws against activists. In addition, it has also raised questions about the boundaries of peaceful dissent. Many see the case as symbolic of the tension between regional identity movements and central authority. Notably, this tension has grown since Ladakh’s separation from Jammu & Kashmir in 2019.
Civil society groups and environmental networks have called for his release. They also described him as a “climate patriot” whose work has brought global attention to sustainable innovation in the Himalayas.
The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre and Ladakh Administration, seeking a response within two weeks. Meanwhile, Angmo continues her public campaign, urging citizens to “stand for the right to speak, innovate, and dream freely.”
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