‘Attempt to silence dissent’: Sonam Wangchuk’s wife to SC in amended plea against his detention

Gitanjali J Angmo, the wife of activist Sonam Wangchuk, told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that his detention under the National Security Act is “a calculated attempt” to prevent him from exercising his democratic and constitutional right to dissent, The Indian Express reported.

In an application seeking the court’s permission to amend her petition against his detention and raise additional grounds, Angmo said that Wangchuk’s detention must be set aside as safeguards under the Act had not been followed.

She also denied that the activist had ever acted in a manner prejudicial to maintaining public order or security in Laadakh, the newspaper reported.

Wangchuk was arrested in Leh on September 26 under the National Security Act, two days after four persons were killed in police firing during protests seeking statehood for Ladakh. He was later taken to a jail in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur.

The police firing and violence broke out on September 24 during protests demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Demonstrators clashed with and threw stones at the police, and set fire to the Bharatiya Janata Party office and a police vehicle.

The Union government has claimed that the violence was incited by Wangchuk’s “provocative statements”.

Earlier this month, Angmo had filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging his detention under the National Security Act.

On Wednesday, a bench of...

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