Centre revokes Sonam Wangchuk’s National Security Act detention
The Indian central government has revoked the detention of Ladakhi climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA) with immediate effect.
Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025, by the Leh District Magistrate amid violent protests in Leh on September 24, 2025, where clashes over demands for Ladakh statehood and Sixth Schedule protections led to four deaths and around 90 injuries.
The Ministry of Home Affairs stated the move followed “due consideration,” as Wangchuk had served nearly half the maximum NSA detention period (about 169 days), aiming to foster peace, stability, and dialogue in Ladakh.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor welcomed the release but called the detention duration excessive; his wife had petitioned the Supreme Court, which questioned speech translation discrepancies and adjourned hearings to March 17, 2026.
