Sonam Wangchuk’s Wife, Gitanjali Angmo, Urges Supreme Court for Husband’s Release, Slams Police Crackdown in Ladakh

KalimNews with inputs from Agencies, New Delhi, October 3, 2025 : Gitanjali J Angmo, the wife of detained climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, has moved the Supreme Court seeking his release from detention under the National Security Act (NSA). Wangchuk, who has been a vocal advocate for climate change action and the development of Ladakh's tribal regions, was arrested on September 26, 2025, in connection with ongoing protests demanding constitutional safeguards for Ladakh. He was moved to Jodhpur jail shortly after his arrest.

Angmo has vehemently denied allegations that her husband had ties with a Pakistani intelligence operative, calling them "absolutely false" and accusing the Ladakh police of targeting him with an "agenda." "They don’t want to implement the 6th Schedule under any circumstances and want to make someone a scapegoat," Angmo said, adding that Wangchuk, a peaceful activist, “can never be a threat to anyone, let alone his nation.”

Calls for Justice and Unconditional Release

Angmo wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other top government officials, questioning her rights to meet and speak with her husband during his detention. She raised concerns about her husband's condition, stating that he has been in detention for over a week without any communication, despite assurances from authorities. "Am I not entitled to know the condition of my husband, who has been in detention since September 26, with no communication with me or anyone else close to us?" Angmo asked.

She further emphasized that as a responsible citizen, she should be entitled to peaceful expression and movement, questioning the legitimacy of the charges against her husband. She stated that Sonam Wangchuk had been participating in peaceful protests advocating for the rights of the people of Ladakh, including the implementation of the Sixth Schedule, but had never advocated for violence or posed any threat to the country.

Allegations of a Witch Hunt

Angmo also accused the Ladakh administration of launching a "full-scale witch hunt" against her husband, claiming that for the past month, a coordinated campaign has been underway to undermine Wangchuk’s activism. “A full-scale witch hunt has been unleashed for the past one month in particular, and for the past four years covertly, to kill the spirit of my husband and all the causes he stands for,” Angmo wrote, adding that this campaign was part of a broader effort to stifle climate activism in the region.

Angmo criticized the lack of transparency in Wangchuk's detention and questioned the legality of the actions taken by the police. She noted that Wangchuk was not allowed to take his clothes during his arrest and was unaware of whether he had been provided with basic amenities, especially after a 15-day fast in September 2025 that had weakened his health. Angmo’s concerns were heightened by the fact that the police had not shared any official explanation of his legal rights or allowed her to speak with him.

Police Surveillance and Allegations of Political Targeting

In a stark critique of the political landscape, Angmo compared the situation in Ladakh to "British-ruled India," accusing the Union Home Ministry of using the Ladakh Police to oppress and silence dissent. "Is India really free? In 1857, 24,000 Britishers used 135,000 Indian sepoys to oppress 300 million Indians under orders from the Queen. Today, a dozen administrators are misusing 2400 Ladakhi police to oppress and torture 3 lakh Ladakhis under the orders of the MHA," she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

This comparison came amid curfew and police firing in Leh following violent protests on September 24, which led to Wangchuk’s arrest. Angmo also claimed that she had been placed under surveillance by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in her home village of Phyang, where she runs the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL). Two members of the institute had also been taken into police custody without any legal explanation.

Allegations of Anti-National Links Rejected

The controversy surrounding Wangchuk’s arrest has intensified due to allegations that he attended a climate change conference with Pakistani media outlets and individuals. Angmo vehemently rejected these claims, stating that Wangchuk had attended a scientific conference on Himalayan glaciers, not a political summit. "This is character assassination, plain and simple," she said, questioning the logic behind such accusations. She further stated, "If India plays cricket with Pakistan, does that make our players ISI agents?"

Angmo dismissed the claims that her husband was a threat to national security, pointing out that Wangchuk had always advocated for peace and development in Ladakh and had consistently called for addressing China’s influence not through conflict but by strengthening economic resilience.

Government Response and Future Developments

The Ladakh Lieutenant Governor, Kavinder Gupta, expressed hope that the matter would be resolved soon, reiterating the central government's commitment to fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people of Ladakh. Meanwhile, Angmo’s request for Wangchuk’s unconditional release has drawn attention from human rights advocates and activists who believe that his detention represents a crackdown on free speech and peaceful activism.

As of now, the legal battle is still ongoing, and Angmo remains resolute in her demand for justice and the immediate release of her husband, who she describes as a "peaceful Gandhian protester" standing up for the rights of Ladakh's indigenous communities.