Geetanjali Angmo, the wife of renowned climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, visited him at Jodhpur Central Jail on Wednesday following his detention due to the September 24 Leh violence.
Accompanied by lawyer Ritam Khare, Angmo confirmed that the legal team obtained a copy of Wangchuk’s detention order, which will be challenged in court. She stated that the document outlines the allegations against him and the reasons for invoking the National Security Act (NSA).
Angmo reported that earlier visits to Wangchuk involved his brother, Tsetan Dorje, who met him with lawyer Mustafa Haji. Haji remarked on social media that Wangchuk demands an independent judicial inquiry into the killing of four people during the protest in Leh.
“Wangchuk has expressed his willingness to remain in jail until such an inquiry is conducted,” Haji stated. This emphasizes Wangchuk’s commitment to addressing the serious concerns raised during the recent protests.
Adding further pressure, Angmo has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking her husband’s immediate release, with the hearing set for October 14.
Sonam Wangchuk, an influential advocate for environmental and social issues in Ladakh, faced detention under the NSA following violent clashes during a protest advocating for statehood for Ladakh and the Union Territory’s inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Following his detention, authorities initially took Wangchuk to Delhi before his transfer to Jodhpur Central Jail on September 26, raising questions about the conditions of his detention.
The National Security Act allows for detention without trial for individuals deemed a threat to national security, thus garnering significant attention from various civil rights groups and environmental activists.
Wangchuk’s arrest sparked a wave of protests across Ladakh, as community members rallied for his release and demanded government accountability for violence during the protests. His ongoing detainment and the legal challenges ahead continue to underscore the tensions within the region.
As the situation develops, the fate of Sonam Wangchuk remains uncertain, but his commitment to advocating for the people of Ladakh and environmental sustainability persists, as outlined in his recent public statements.
