• Source:JND
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Sonam Wangchuk Detention: Gitanjali Angmo, the wife of education reformer and activist Sonam Wangchuk and co-founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), on Friday approached the Supreme Court challenging her husband's detention under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), following a violent protest in Leh. Wangchuk was detained under the stringent NSA in Leh for allegedly instigating the violent protests on September 24 that left four people dead and scores of others, including security personnel, injured. He was later shifted to a jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, after his detention.

Wangchuk Being Projected As Anti-National As Part Of Witch-Hunt: Wife

Earlier, Angmo alleged that "baseless narratives" were being spread against him and his institutes to project him as an "anti-national" as part of a "witch-hunt".

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She challenged authorities to an open debate on the allegations, including those suggesting links to Pakistan, and said neither she has been able to contact Wangchuk nor has she been provided with formal documents detailing the charges against him by the administration.

"There was no need to put the NSA on Sonam Wangchuk; they are giving one-sided narratives," Angmo claimed and asserted that she felt "almost in a house arrest" herself and decided to travel to the national capital to speak out.

She alleged that efforts are being made to weaken the movement for Sixth Schedule protections for Ladakh and claimed her organisations, HIAL and The Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), have provided all clarifying documents to officials from the CBI and the Income Tax Department.

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"A witch-hunt has been going on against us. We have given all documents clarifying the charges to officials from CBI, to the Income Tax Department, yet a smokescreen is being created to defame Sonam, so that the movement for the Sixth Schedule can be weakened," she alleged.

She said many doubts and aspersions are being hurled at Sonam Wangchuk, including about receiving the Magsaysay Award. "Why is the Magsaysay award being considered so bad?" she asked. Highlighting the stature of the award, she noted that approximately 60 Indians have been recipients, including revered figures such as Vinoba Bhave, Satyajit Ray, MS Subbulakshmi and MS Swaminathan.

(With PTI inputs)