Gitanjali Angmo claims her husband was unjustly detained amid rising tensions in Ladakh.
Gitanjali Angmo, the wife of activist Sonam Wangchuk, has reached out to President Droupadi Murmu requesting his “unconditional release” following Wangchuk’s arrest in Leh. This incident occurred five days ago, on September 26, shortly after violent protests erupted in the region, leading to the deaths of four individuals due to police firing. The protests were primarily aimed at demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
During these protests, demonstrators reportedly clashed with law enforcement, throwing stones and setting fire to a police vehicle and the local Bharatiya Janata Party office. The Union government has alleged that Wangchuk’s statements were provocative and incited the violence that unfolded.
In her letter dated Friday, Angmo, who is also the founder and CEO of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh, expressed that her husband was arrested “without cause” and emphasized that she had been denied any communication with him, either by phone or in person. She described the situation as a “full-scale witch hunt” that had been ongoing for a month and covertly for the past four years. Angmo characterized her husband as a “peaceful Gandhian protester” with a commendable history of service to the nation.
Furthermore, Angmo disclosed that she has been subjected to surveillance by the Central Reserve Police Force, and two members of her organization were detained recently, seemingly without legal justification. She expressed concern over the actions taken by state agencies, stating that they are not only targeting her husband but also infringing upon her rights and freedoms. She highlighted a troubling incident where a security guard at her institute received a request for personal information about all fellowship students and staff.
Angmo criticized the treatment they have received from the state, calling it deplorable and a violation of the spirit of the Indian Constitution. She raised questions about whether advocating for climate change, glacier conservation, educational reforms, and tribal rights should be considered a threat to national security. Her letter firmly requested the release of Wangchuk, asserting that he poses no threat to anyone or the nation, having dedicated his life to serving the people of Ladakh and supporting the Indian Army.
Copies of Angmo’s letter have been sent to several high-profile government officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Kavinder Gupta, the lieutenant governor of Ladakh. The backdrop of this situation includes the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government’s decision in August 2019 to abrogate the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, dividing it into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. This decision has raised significant concerns among Ladakh’s residents regarding their land, resources, and cultural identity, leading to calls for the region’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule to safeguard its unique characteristics.
