Centre Revokes Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s Detention Months After Leh Protests

The Ministry of Home Affairs (India) on Saturday revoked the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (India) with immediate effect.

In a statement, the ministry said the government remains committed to fostering peace, stability and mutual trust in Ladakh to enable constructive and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders. It added that, after due consideration, the Centre decided to withdraw Wangchuk’s detention as part of efforts to create an environment conducive to dialogue. The government also reiterated its commitment to ensuring necessary safeguards for the region.

Vivek Tankha, a Rajya Sabha MP who was leading the legal challenge in the Supreme Court of India seeking Wangchuk’s release, welcomed the decision.

“I am glad that the Government of India has notified the release of Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act. Sonam was detained in Ladakh on September 26. Sonam’s actions were misunderstood. He is an icon of climate change and glaciers. A real nationalist,” Tankha said.

Arrest during 2025 protests

Wangchuk, an engineer, innovator and education reformer from Ladakh, was detained by local police on September 26, 2025.

His arrest came amid violent protests in Leh demanding statehood for Ladakh and constitutional protections under the Sixth Schedule.

Authorities detained Wangchuk while he was on his way to address a press conference and booked him under the National Security Act, alleging that he had incited unrest in the border-sensitive region. The protests reportedly left four people dead and around 90 others injured, with officials describing him as a “chief provocateur.”

The detention was later challenged in the Supreme Court of India by his wife, Tsering Angmo, during hearings held in January and February 2026.

At the time, the Centre defended the move, arguing that the detention had helped restore normalcy in the region and that due legal procedures had been followed. Wangchuk had spent more than 140 days in custody at a jail in Jodhpur before the detention order was revoked.