Amid heightened tensions in Ladakh following violent protests, activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, has approached the Supreme Court seeking his immediate release. Her plea comes days after she wrote to the President of India, Prime Minister, Home Minister, Law Minister, and the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, demanding clarification on her husband’s detention and questioning whether supporting the people’s cause was treated as a crime. She has described the arrest as illegal, unconstitutional, and a violation of Wangchuk’s fundamental rights.
Wife Raises Habeas Corpus Petition, Demands Transparency
In her plea accessed by CNN-News18, Gitanjali alleged that Wangchuk’s location and condition remain undisclosed, even a week after his arrest. She claimed that neither the grounds for his detention nor formal arrest papers have been served to the family. The petition demands that Wangchuk be produced immediately before the court, calling the detention “illegal and unconstitutional.”
Sharing a copy of the petition on X, she wrote, “I have sought relief from the Supreme Court of India through a Habeas Corpus petition against @Wangchuk66’s detention. It is one week today, and I still have no information about Sonam Wangchuk’s health, the condition he is in, nor the grounds of detention.” The plea emphasizes the lack of transparency in handling Wangchuk’s case and challenges the government’s justification for holding him under the National Security Act.
Background: Arrest and Allegations
Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on September 26 by Leh Police under the NSA, days after violent protests in Ladakh left four people dead and over 90 injured. He was subsequently shifted to Central Jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The protests, originally aimed at securing statehood, local job protections, and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, turned violent during clashes with authorities.
While the government accused Wangchuk of inciting mob violence through provocative statements, the activist has denied all allegations, stating that the unrest reflected longstanding frustration among locals with central policies. The Union Home Ministry also revoked the FCRA licence of his NGO, SECMOL, citing alleged violations. Gitanjali Angmo has condemned the labeling of her husband as “anti-national,” calling the claims “blatant lies” and asserting that a targeted “witch-hunt” is underway against him.
