India frees Ladakh activist Wangchuk after 6 months in jail

Wangchuk is an environmental advocate who became a key figure in Ladakh’s movement for greater autonomy. Read more at straitstimes.com.

NEW DELHI – India on March 14 ended the preventive detention of prominent Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, freeing him six months after he was held over protests in the Himalayan region.

Wangchuk, 59, an environmental advocate who became a key figure in Ladakh’s movement for greater autonomy, was held in September and later charged under India’s National Security Act following protests that left four people dead and dozens wounded.

New Delhi had blamed the violence on “provocative speeches” by Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike demanding either full federal statehood for Ladakh or constitutional protections for its tribal communities, land and fragile environment.

The authorities in the sparsely populated, high-altitude region bordering China and Pakistan, at the time said the order, issued by the district magistrate of Leh, was needed to “maintain public order”.

Under the stringent National Security Act, a suspect can be detained for up to 12 months without being formally charged.

The Home Ministry said in a statement in March 14 it had decided to end Wangchuk’s detention “with immediate effect” after “due consideration”.