Climate activist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk was released from the Jodhpur Central Jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan on Saturday after spending nearly six months in detention under the National Security Act (NSA).
Wangchuk, 59, was arrested on September 26 last year following protests in Ladakh over demands for statehood that later turned violent. The demonstrations resulted in four deaths and left several others injured. Authorities had alleged that he provoked the protests by drawing parallels with the Arab Spring uprisings.
His release followed the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs to revoke the detention order with immediate effect. Officials said the move was taken to enable “constructive and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders.”
Wangchuk walked out of the jail at around 1 pm after completing the necessary formalities. He was received outside the prison by his wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, and the couple left the premises together in a private vehicle.
The activist’s release comes just days before the Supreme Court of India is scheduled to hear a habeas corpus petition filed by Angmo on March 17. The petition had challenged Wangchuk’s detention under the 1980 law, which allows authorities to detain individuals for up to 12 months without trial.
During the protests in Ladakh, tensions had intensified as several groups demanded statehood and constitutional safeguards for the region. Following the unrest, authorities detained Wangchuk and also initiated a preliminary inquiry into an institute established by him.
In the months since his detention, activists and supporters had repeatedly called for his release. On February 25, several protesters gathered in Jodhpur demanding his freedom, prompting police to install barricades near the central jail.
His release also triggered political reactions. Former Ashok Gehlot, the former chief minister of Rajasthan, welcomed the decision but questioned the circumstances that led to Wangchuk’s detention.
In a post on social media platform X, Gehlot said it was ironic that Wangchuk, who had previously supported some policies of Narendra Modi, was jailed under the stringent NSA after raising concerns about Ladakh’s rights and environmental issues.
Gehlot further questioned how a person once described as a threat to national security could be released so suddenly. He also asked whether any evidence had been presented against Wangchuk and who would take responsibility for the nearly 170 days he spent in jail.
