Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was released from Jodhpur Central Jail on Saturday (March 14) after the Center decided to revoke her detention with immediate effect. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has also reacted to the cancellation of Sonam Wangchuk’s custody. He said that the question is why was he sent to jail? He should not have been sent to jail. BJP should also have supported his movement.

‘BJP had assured that full status of statehood will be given’

Akhilesh Yadav said, “BJP itself had assured that he would get full status of statehood. They will get full power of statehood but BJP cheated them. Not only cheated the public but also treated Wangchuk like this and he had to go to jail.

#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra | On MHA revoking Sonam Wangchuk’s detention, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav says, “The question is: why was he sent to jail in the first place? He should not have been sent to jail. The BJP, too, should have supported his movement, as the BJP… pic.twitter.com/HKjU7hR5BH

— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2026

When was Wangchuk detained?

Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025, two days after violent protests broke out in Leh demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. He was accused of inciting protests. More than 45 people, including 22 policemen, were injured in the protests. He was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) for law and order on the orders of Leh District Magistrate and then shifted to Jodhpur jail.

When was climate activist Sonam Wangchuk released?

Sonam Wangchuk has already spent almost half of the custody period prescribed under this Act. Ratanada police station in-charge Dinesh Lakhawat said, “Following the order of the central government, Wangchuk was released from jail at around 1:30 pm today.” Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo was present here to complete the formalities.

Ladakh’s famous environmental activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, lodged in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur Central Jail, was released on Saturday afternoon. After being in custody for about 170 days, the Central Government decided to remove the (NSA) imposed against him with immediate effect.

According to the information, Wangchuk was detained by the Ladakh administration on 24 September 2025. Two days later, on 26 September, he was sent to Jodhpur Central Jail. He was accused of inciting violence during the movement in Ladakh demanding statehood and the Sixth Schedule. 4 people died and more than 150 people were injured in that violence.

Center removed NSA before hearing

It is being told that the hearing on the petition filed by Wangchuk’s wife Geetanjali was proposed in the Supreme Court on March 17, but before that, the central government took a big decision and decided to remove the NSA. According to the Home Ministry, this step has been taken with the aim of creating an environment of peace, stability and mutual trust in Ladakh.

Movement mentioned in social media post before release

In a post made on social media before the release, Sonam Wangchuk said that he has not backed down from his movement and activism. He wrote that his struggle was for the security, dignity and future of Ladakh and will continue in future also. At the same time, the major organizations of Ladakh, Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) were also continuously raising the demand for his release.

Called arrest under NSA unconstitutional

Let us tell you that Ladakh’s environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained by the Ladakh administration on 24 September 2025. Two days later, on 26 September, he was sent to Jodhpur Central Jail. However, Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo had filed a petition in the Supreme Court calling her husband’s detention under the NSA illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional.