Wangchuk's wife moves SC seeking his release after NSA detention

New Delhi: Gitanjali Angmo, the wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, has moved to the Supreme Court seeking his release following his detention under the National Security Act on September 26.

In the plea filed through lawyer Sarvam Ritam Khare, Angmo sought Wangchuk's immediate release and challenged his detention. The plea also questions the decision to invoke the NSA against him. Angmo alleged that she had not yet received a copy of the detention order, which is a violation of the rules. She also added that she has had no contact with Wangchuk so far.

Wangchuk, who had initially welcomed the Centre's 2019 decision to grant Union Territory status to Ladakh, had emerged as a prominent figure in demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards. He began a hunger strike on September 10 in support of the cause and ended the fast on September 24, the day the unrest broke out. 

The clash resulted in four deaths and 90 injuries in the Union Territory. Wangchuk was taken into custody on charges of inciting protestors into violence and had multiple FIRs registered against him. He was detained under the stringent National Security Act on September 26, two days after the clash.

Recently, the Ladakh administration rejected claims of a "witch-hunt" or a "smokescreen" operation against Wangchuk.