I was thrown into jail, with no communication with my legal team or family, says Sonam Wangchuk

Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) that he was “bundled and thrown into jail” with no communication with his family and legal team for almost ten days.

Mr. Wangchuk was released from Jodhpur Central Jail on Saturday (March 14, 2026), after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) revoked with “immediate effect” his 170-day detention under the National Security Act (NSA). He was detained under the provisions of the National Security Act (NSA) last year after police took action against his protest demanding Statehood and Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory of Ladakh.

In his first interaction after his release, Mr. Wangchuk said, both the government and people have to be flexible on demands. “Talks are a give and take process, both sides have to be flexible and considerate,“ he said and warned, unnecessary prolonging of the dialogue, would hamper meaningful conversation.

“I never wanted to do agitations, was forced to sit on protests. We don’t want to. We should join hands and set an example,” he added.

Questioning government’s move to arrest protesters from Ladakh, Mr. Wangchuk claimed that people who went to donate blood were detained, and two people were still in jail.

Dozens of local residents, including many of Mr. Wangchuk’s supporters, were rounded up in Leh over a 24 hour-period following the violent protests in Leh in September 2025.

Commenting on his release from jail, he said, “The advances from the government was possible due to our status in the court.”

“I was well prepared to spend 12-months in jail,” said Mr. Wangchuk

Talking about reason behind his detention he said, “Misunderstandings crept into the hierarchy and led them to believe that I am wrong. Linguistic misunderstandings led to the grounds of detention.”