Ladakh protest: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to be released as govt revokes NSA detention | India News

New Delhi: The Center on Saturday lifted the detention of the climate activist Sonam Wangchuk Exercising powers under the National Security Act will take effect immediately, the home ministry said.In a statement released, the ministry said that “the government is committed to fostering an environment of peace, stability and mutual trust in Ladakh to facilitate constructive and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders.”“In furtherance of this objective, and after due consideration, the Government has decided to immediately withdraw the detention of Shri Sonam Wangchuk in exercise of the powers available under the National Security Act,” it added.

“Wangchuk has already passed almost half of the detention period under the said law,” the ministry announced in his immediate release.The government said it is 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 atmosphere of shutdowns and protests has been detrimental to the peaceful character of the society and has adversely affected various sections of the society, including students, job seekers and economic entrants and traders,” the statement added.The government’s decision comes days after the Supreme Court adjourned hearing a petition challenging Sonam Wangchuk’s detention till March 17. A bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and PB Bharal made it clear that no further arguments would be heard after that date.The court also asked the Center whether it could reconsider or review the worker’s detention, noting that “his medical condition is not that good.”During the proceedings, government authorities told the court that Wangchuk’s comments encouraged young people to organize protests similar to those seen in Nepal and Bangladesh, and even referred to an uprising like the Arab Spring.The government argued that such statements could create instability in strategically sensitive border areas. Officials linked him to the violence in Leh on September 24 last year that left four people dead and over 160 injured.Wangchuk was detained under the provisions of the National Security Act on September 26, 2025, following an order issued by the District Magistrate of Leh, two days after violent protests broke out in the city demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.He was taken into preventive custody under the NSA to “maintain public order” and later shifted to a jail in Jodhpur.His wife Gitanjali Angmo went to the Supreme Court challenging the detention. The court first accepted the petition and issued a notice to the authorities on October 6 last year.