Geetanjali Angmo, wife of renowned climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, met her husband at Jodhpur Central Jail on Tuesday. Wangchuk has been lodged in the facility since his detention on September 24 following violent protests in Leh.
During her visit alongside lawyer Ritam Khare, Angmo confirmed that Wangchuk’s legal team has secured a copy of the detention order. This order will be contested in court, wherein Angmo aims to seek her husband’s swift release.
According to Angmo, the detention order outlines the specific allegations against Wangchuk. It also details the reasons for invoking the National Security Act (NSA) against him. The accusations stem from his active role in the protests demanding statehood for Ladakh.
Earlier visits included Wangchuk’s brother, Tsetan Dorje, who met him in jail accompanied by lawyer Mustafa Haji. Following this visit, Haji shared on X that Wangchuk has called for an independent judicial inquiry into the tragic deaths of four individuals during last month’s protests.
“Wangchuk has expressed his willingness to remain in jail until such an inquiry is conducted,” Haji wrote. This illustrates Wangchuk’s unwavering commitment to the cause he champions.
In parallel, Angmo has filed a petition in the Supreme Court for her husband’s immediate release, with the hearing scheduled for October 14. Many anticipate that this case will shed light on the matters regarding civil liberties and human rights in the region.
Wangchuk, a prominent advocate for environmental and social issues in Ladakh, was detained under the NSA due to his involvement in protests demanding inclusion of the Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This inclusion aims to enhance local governance and ensure the protection of tribal rights.
Following his detention, authorities first took him to Delhi, later transferring him to Jodhpur Central Jail on September 26. Wangchuk’s detention raises serious questions about the handling of dissent in a democracy.
