Ladakh protests: Government revokes NSA detention, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to be released

New Delhi: Center on Saturday withdraws detention of climate activists Golden Wangchuk The Ministry of Home Affairs said it was exercising its powers under the National Security Law with immediate effect.“The government remains committed to fostering an environment of peace, stability and mutual trust in Ladakh to facilitate constructive and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders,” the ministry said in a statement.“In furtherance of this objective, and after due consideration, the government has decided to immediately revoke the detention of Sonam Wangchuk by exercising its powers under the National Security Law,” the statement added.The Interior Ministry noted that “Wangchuk has already spent nearly half of his detention under the Act” and announced his immediate release.The government said it has been actively engaging with stakeholders and community leaders in Ladakh to address the aspirations and concerns of the people of the region.“The government has been actively engaging with various stakeholders and community leaders in Ladakh to address the aspirations and concerns of the people of the region. However, the prevailing atmosphere of marches and protests is not conducive to the peaceful nature of the society and has adversely affected all sections of the community, including students, job seekers, businesses, travel agencies and tourists as well as the overall economy,” the statement added.A few days ago, the Supreme Court postponed to March 17 the hearing of a petition challenging Sonam Wangchuk’s detention. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale made it clear that no further arguments would be heard after this date.The court also asked the Center whether the activist’s detention could be reconsidered or reviewed, noting that “his health condition is not good”.During the proceedings, government authorities told the court that Wangchuk’s comments encouraged young people to organize protests similar to those in Nepal and Bangladesh and even mentioned uprisings similar to the Arab Spring.The government believes such comments could trigger instability in strategically sensitive border areas. Officials also linked him to the violence in Leh on September 24 last year that left four people dead and more than 160 injured.Wangchuck was detained under the provisions of the National Security Act on September 26, 2025, following an order issued by the Leh magistrate. Two days ago, violent protests erupted in the city demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the constitution.He was placed in preventive detention by the National Security Agency for “maintaining public order” and was later transferred to a jail in Jodhpur.His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, has filed a case in the Supreme Court challenging the detention. The court first accepted the petition on October 6 last year and issued a notice to the authorities.