New Delhi – Ladakh climate activist Sonam Wangchuk walked free from Jodhpur Central Jail on March 14 after spending exactly 170 days in detention under the National Security Act. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs revoked his detention order the same day, calling it a step to build trust and open the door for talks on the region’s long-pending issues.
At a press conference held in Delhi on Tuesday, Wangchuk praised the government’s decision as a “win-win” move. He said the Centre has extended its hand for meaningful dialogue and that both sides must now show flexibility to solve Ladakh’s problems without bitterness. His wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, stood by his side and shared her own struggles during the long months of separation.
The Arrest and 170 Days in Jail
Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on September 26, 2025, just two days after protests turned violent in Leh on September 24. The protests were for full statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Reports say four people died in the clashes and many were hurt. The local administration blamed Wangchuk’s speeches for fuelling the unrest. He was put under NSA and sent to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan.
During his time in jail, Wangchuk had no communication with his family or lawyers for the first ten days. He later called the entire experience a “huge horror story”. But he also said the quiet time helped him reflect deeply on Ladakh’s future. He read books, wrote notes and stayed mentally strong. His wife made two trips every week from Ladakh to Rajasthan just to meet him for 60 minutes under heavy security. She described those journeys as painful and full of legal battles. She even filed a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court to challenge the detention.
On March 14, the Ministry of Home Affairs said it was revoking the order because Wangchuk had already served nearly half the maximum period allowed under NSA and to help create an environment of peace and trust for talks. He was released in the afternoon after a medical check-up. Many leaders in Ladakh welcomed the news but said other people still in custody for the same protests should also be freed.
Sonam Wangchuk Speaks Out at Press Conference
Two days after his release, Wangchuk addressed the media with his wife beside him. He looked fit and spoke with calm energy. “It is a win-win situation,” he said. “The Centre has extended its hand for meaningful dialogue. We just wanted talks. I am a little greedy – I want a win-win not just for me but for Ladakh and the bigger cause.”
He added that talks are a give-and-take process. Both the government and the people of Ladakh must show flexibility. “What good is Sonam winning if Ladakh does not win?” he asked. He made it clear he has not stepped away from activism but now wants sincere dialogue instead of long court fights. He thanked everyone who supported him and said the government’s step has made his job easier.
Wangchuk also spoke about the region’s main demands – full statehood or strong protections under the Sixth Schedule. He said these steps are needed to save Ladakh’s land, culture, jobs and fragile ecology from fast changes. He urged both sides not to drag the talks and to work quickly for real solutions.
Wife Gitanjali J Angmo Shares Family Ordeal
Gitanjali J Angmo, who is also a social activist and educator, stood quietly at first but later opened up about the difficult months. She wrote on social media that her “ordeal of making two trips a week every week for just a 60-minute meeting over the past five months has finally ended”. She described the heavy security around the jail visits and the constant legal fights. “We had free-flowing chats without any fear now,” she said happily after the release.
She also mentioned that Wangchuk will soon go for a full medical check-up. She asked everyone to move forward and not stay stuck in the pain of the past. Many people praised her strong support for her husband during the tough time.
Who Is Sonam Wangchuk?
Sonam Wangchuk is a well-known face from Ladakh. He is an engineer, educationist and climate activist. People across India know him for his simple but powerful ideas to fight water shortage in the cold desert. He started the famous “Ice Stupa” project where artificial glaciers store winter ice to give water in summer. This work won him the Rolex Award for enterprise many years ago. He has also built solar-heated schools and pushed for local education in the mother tongue.
For years, Wangchuk has been raising his voice for Ladakh’s environment. He warns that too much tourism, new roads and big projects are melting glaciers faster and harming the fragile Himalayan ecology. His hunger strike before the September protests was also part of the same fight for safeguards.
Ladakh’s Long-Standing Demands Explained
Ladakh became a separate Union Territory in 2019 after the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir. Unlike other UTs, it has no elected assembly or legislature. People say this leaves them without real say in their own matters.
Their main demands are simple but important:
- Full statehood so they can have their own government and make local laws.
- Inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, which gives special protections to tribal areas in the Northeast. This would help protect land, forests and culture from outsiders.
- Job reservation for locals and a separate Ladakh Public Service Commission.
- Two seats in Parliament instead of one.
- Strong steps to save the environment from over-tourism and climate change.
Ladakh has around 2.7 lakh people. Most are tribal – Buddhists in Leh and Shia Muslims in Kargil. They fear that without these protections their unique identity and limited land will disappear. Protests for these demands have been going on peacefully since 2021. The September 2025 events were the most serious so far.
The Sixth Schedule is not new. It has worked well for tribal councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. It lets local bodies make rules on land, forests and customs. Ladakh leaders say the same rights will help them keep their culture safe while staying part of India.
Ecological Concerns and Wangchuk’s Work
Ladakh sits high in the Himalayas. It is cold, dry and depends on glaciers for water. Climate change is making glaciers melt fast. Tourism has grown a lot after 2019. More hotels, roads and visitors put extra pressure on the land. Wangchuk has always said development must respect nature. His Ice Stupas are low-cost, local solutions that store water without electricity. He teaches villagers how to build them. Many young people in Ladakh follow his ideas for green living.
During the press conference, Wangchuk linked the demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule directly to saving the environment. He said only locals who understand the land can make the right rules to protect it.
Latest Updates and Continuing Protests
Even after Wangchuk’s release, people in Leh and Kargil held peaceful rallies on March 16. Groups like Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance said the fight will go on until all demands are met. They thanked the Centre for the release but demanded freedom for other people still in custody.
The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh has called the revocation a positive step and invited all sides for talks. The government has said it remains committed to peace and constructive dialogue with all stakeholders in Ladakh.
Reactions from Leaders and Experts
Many political leaders and civil society groups welcomed the move. They said it shows the government is ready to listen. Some opposition voices pointed out that long detention under NSA raised questions about free speech. But most people now focus on the future. Wangchuk himself said, “Let us not dwell on the past. Let us move forward to move this country forward.”
Road Ahead: Hope for Talks
Wangchuk has made one thing clear – he is ready for dialogue. He wants the talks to be sincere and quick. He believes both the Centre and Ladakh people can find middle ground. The revocation of his detention has created fresh hope. If the coming meetings succeed, Ladakh may finally get the constitutional safeguards it has been asking for since 2019.
The people of Ladakh have shown patience and strength. Their demands are not against anyone. They only want to protect their home, culture and future generations. Wangchuk’s release and his call for flexibility have opened a new chapter. Everyone now waits to see how the dialogue moves ahead.
FAQs
Q1. Why was Sonam Wangchuk arrested?
He was detained on September 26, 2025 under the National Security Act after protests in Leh on September 24 turned violent. The administration said his speeches added to the unrest. Wangchuk and his supporters said he was only asking for peaceful talks on statehood and Sixth Schedule.
Q2. How long was he in jail and where?
He spent 170 days in Jodhpur Central Jail, Rajasthan. The detention was preventive under NSA, which allows up to one year without trial in some cases.
Q3. What is the Sixth Schedule and why does Ladakh want it?
The Sixth Schedule gives special rights to tribal areas for self-governance on land, forests, customs and jobs. Ladakh wants it to protect its small population and fragile land from outside changes.
Q4. What did Wangchuk say after release?
He called the revocation a “win-win” and a trust-building step. He said talks are give and take and both sides must be flexible. He described jail as a “huge horror story” but used the time for positive reflection.
Q5. What did his wife Gitanjali say?
She said her weekly painful trips to jail are over. She spoke about heavy security, legal struggles and now looking forward to normal life. She asked people to focus on future dialogue.
Q6. Will protests stop after his release?
No. Peaceful rallies continued on March 16 in Leh and Kargil. Leaders say the movement for statehood and Sixth Schedule will go on until demands are met.
Q7. What is next for Ladakh?
The Centre has invited talks. Wangchuk and local bodies hope for quick meetings on statehood, Sixth Schedule and ecological protection. The Lieutenant Governor has called it a positive step for peace.
Q8. Who is Sonam Wangchuk?
He is a Ladakh engineer and climate activist famous for Ice Stupas that store water. He has worked for education and environment for many years and won international awards for his simple solutions.