‘My weekly journey to prison is finally over’: Sonam Wangchuk’s wife talks about his release

New Delhi: Activists and Engineers Golden Wangchuk After being detained for nearly six months, he was released from Jodhpur Central Jail on Saturday, a moment his wife Geetanjali J Angmo said was the end of a long and exhausting ordeal for their family.Shortly after his release, Angmo wrote in a message posted on X about the emotional process of informing Wangchuck that he was finally free. “Went a final letter to the warden yesterday requesting permission to meet and inform @Wangchuk66 of his release,” she said. She thanked the people of Jodhpur for their support, adding that she was relieved that her husband’s “170 days of agony in jail” were over.Aung Moe also spoke of the personal stress of months-long detention. She said she had been going to the jail twice a week for the past five months, often just for an hour’s meeting. “My ordeal of traveling twice a week for only one 60-minute meeting for the past five months is finally over,” she wrote.Wangchuck, 59, was detained under the National Security Law on September 26 last year, following violent protests in Ladakh demanding statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the constitution. The protests were organized by groups including Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance.The Center announced on Saturday that it had immediately withdrawn Wangchuck’s detention, saying the decision was aimed at promoting “peace, stability and mutual trust” in Ladakh and promoting dialogue with stakeholders. Jodhpur police confirmed that he was released around 1:30 pm after the order arrived and Angmo was present to complete the formalities.Days earlier, India’s Supreme Court postponed to March 17 the hearing on a petition filed by Angmo challenging his detention.Just two days ago, Wangchuk wrote on “Our fight has been and will continue to be for the protection, dignity and long-term well-being of Ladakh,” he said.