Gitanjali Angmo, wife of Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, has strongly denied allegations that her husband has any links to Pakistan or was involved in financial irregularities. She described his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) as “misplaced” and accused authorities of misrepresenting his peaceful protests.

According to Angmo, all foreign trips undertaken by Wangchuk were strictly professional, focused on climate, environmental, and educational initiatives. She clarified that his participation in a conference earlier this year, held in Pakistan as part of a multinational collaborative effort, was related to mountain and glacier studies under an international platform, not any political agenda.

Angmo also rejected claims that Wangchuk incited violence during the recent protests in Leh. She maintained that he had consistently advocated peaceful demonstrations and alleged that security forces’ use of tear gas and crowd-control measures escalated tensions. She further claimed that some of his statements were misinterpreted or taken out of context in an attempt to damage his reputation.

She described the harassment faced by their family, including a ransacking of their home, and criticised the state for treating her husband “like a criminal without any reason.” Angmo highlighted Wangchuk’s significant contributions to Ladakh in the fields of environment, education, and climate innovation, and called the allegations against him false and defamatory.

Criticising the use of the NSA, she argued that his long record of nonviolent activism did not justify such “draconian” measures. She stated that she had not yet been provided with the detention order and confirmed that legal action would be pursued to challenge his detention.

Authorities have said that the protest violence in Leh on September 24 led to four deaths and several injuries. Additionally, Wangchuk’s NGO had its foreign funding licences revoked due to alleged financial irregularities.

As the case develops, questions remain over the balance between state security measures and the protection of peaceful dissent, especially in the sensitive Himalayan border region.