Centre Revokes NSA Detention of Sonam Wangchuk After Nearly Six Months in Jodhpur Jail
Centre revoked Wangchuk's NSA detention after ~6 months in Jodhpur jail; he demands Ladakh statehood or Sixth Schedule protection.
aljazeera.com
Key Points for RAS
- The Ministry of Home Affairs revoked the preventive detention of Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk under the NSA on March 14, 2026, ordering his immediate release from Jodhpur jail.
- Wangchuk, 59, was arrested in September 2025 following protests in Ladakh that killed four people.
- The NSA allows detention for up to 12 months without formal charges.
- Wangchuk demanded either full statehood for Ladakh or constitutional protections under the Sixth Schedule for tribal communities.
- The Supreme Court was hearing a petition from his wife challenging the legality of his detention when the release order came.
The Ministry of Home Affairs revoked the preventive detention of Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA) on March 14, 2026, ordering his immediate release from Jodhpur jail. The 59-year-old environmental advocate and engineer had been arrested in September 2025 following protests in Ladakh that killed four people. He was charged under the NSA, which allows detention for up to 12 months without formal charges. Wangchuk had been demanding either full statehood for Ladakh or constitutional protections (Sixth Schedule) for its tribal communities. The Supreme Court was hearing a petition from his wife challenging the legality of his detention when the release order came. Wangchuk later called for 'win-win dialogue' between Ladakh and the Centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 Why was Sonam Wangchuk released from NSA detention from Jodhpur jail in March 2026?
The Ministry of Home Affairs revoked the National Security Act (NSA) detention of Sonam Wangchuk on March 14, 2026, ordering his immediate release from Jodhpur jail after nearly 6 months. Wangchuk was detained in September 2025 following Ladakh protests demanding statehood or Sixth Schedule protection.
2 What is the National Security Act (NSA) and why was it applied to Sonam Wangchuk?
The National Security Act (NSA) allows preventive detention without trial for up to 12 months for national security reasons. Sonam Wangchuk, 59, was detained under NSA in September 2025 after Ladakh protests demanding statehood or Sixth Schedule status for tribal communities. NSA was revoked on March 14, 2026.
3 What did Sonam Wangchuk protest about in Ladakh before his NSA detention?
Sonam Wangchuk led protests in Ladakh demanding statehood or Sixth Schedule protections for tribal communities. He was arrested in September 2025 following protests in which four people were killed, and held under the NSA in Jodhpur jail for nearly 6 months until March 14, 2026.
4 What is the Sixth Schedule and why did Ladakh activists like Sonam Wangchuk demand it?
The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution provides autonomous district councils for tribal areas, protecting indigenous communities' land and cultural rights. Sonam Wangchuk and Ladakh activists demanded either statehood or Sixth Schedule status to protect Ladakh's tribal identity after it became a Union Territory in 2019.
5 How long was Sonam Wangchuk in Jodhpur jail before his NSA detention was revoked?
Sonam Wangchuk, 59, was held in Jodhpur jail for nearly 6 months — from September 2025 to March 14, 2026 — when the Ministry of Home Affairs revoked his NSA (National Security Act) detention and ordered his immediate release.
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