Remarks taken out of context, Wangchuk tells board reviewing detention in Leh case

Detained climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has told the three-member advisory board, constituted to review his detention following the Leh firing incident in which four persons were killed, that his remarks had been taken “out of context”.

Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo, in a statement posted on X on Sunday, said she had accompanied Wangchuk to his meeting with the advisory board on Friday.

“He presented how he was illegally detained under the National Security Act (NSA) based on words, statements and ideas taken out of context from his videos; how the translator had deliberately paraphrased his statements wrongly; and how random, independent skirmishes between the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Ladakh Police and individuals were ascribed to him,” she said.

Gitanjali termed it a “travesty of justice” and “mockery of Indian democracy”. “However, he (Wangchuk) remains unfazed and tells everyone that ‘Insaaf ke ghar der hai, par andher nahi’ (justice may be delayed, but it is never denied), reiterating that truth will prevail. He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone supporting and standing in solidarity with us across the world,” Gitanjali said.

Wangchuk completed one month in detention at the Jodhpur Central Jail on Sunday. He was detained under the NSA on September 26, two days after four protesters were shot by security forces in Leh. The Leh administration had constituted the three-member board to review Wangchuk’s detention. The board comprises Chairman Justice MK Hanjura (retd), Principal District and Sessions Judge, Leh, Manoj Parihar and Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kargil, Spalzes Angmo.

Meanwhile, local leaders have criticised Wangchuk’s detention as he completed a month in jail. Sajjad Kargili, member of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), said in a statement that a month had passed since Leh Apex Body member Wangchuk was jailed under the “draconian” NSA on “baseless” charges.

“Such actions only deepen mistrust and hurt the democratic spirit of Ladakh. We reiterate our demand for his immediate release and restoration of democratic rights,” Kargili said.