Gitanjali Angamo, wife of jailed social activist Sonam Wangchuk, on Sunday (September 28, 2025) has rejected allegations of having a relationship with Pakistan and financial irregularities against her husband. Describing Wangchuk’s allegation of inciting violence in Leh as baseless, he claimed that he was protesting in the most Gandhian manner and the situation deteriorated due to CRPF action on 24 September.
Police took Climate activist Wangchuk into custody on Friday (26 September) under the Strict National Security Act (NSA). The move has been taken two days after the protests were violent on Wednesday (September 24) demanding protests demanding Ladakh to include Ladakh in the sixth schedule of the Constitution and to give it a state status. Four people died and 90 others were injured in this demonstration.
Angamo spoke about the custody of Sonam Wangchuk
Wangchuk was a prominent person associated with the agitation for five years for Ladakh’s rights, who had strong reactions from various classes when taken into custody. He has been kept in jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Angamo, co-founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), said in a conversation with ‘PTI-Bhasha’ over the phone that she has not been able to talk to her husband after being detained and dismissed all the allegations on climate activists and their institutions.
Angamo claimed that a copy of the order to be detained has not been handed over. Angamo said, ‘He had promised to send a copy of the order on Friday (26 September). We will adopt a legal path.
DGP of Ladakh gave information
Ladakh DGP SD Singh Jamwal has said that Wangchuk is being investigated for alleged relations with Pakistan. Last month, a Pakistani spy was arrested, who sent videos of Wangchuk’s protests across the border. The police chief also cited some suspected foreign visits by Wangchuk, including his going to Pakistan to attend a program by The Dawn.
Angmo clarified on visit to Pakistan
However, Angamo clarified that his recent visit to the neighboring country was completely professional and climate-focused. Condemning the allegations of her husband’s relationship with Pakistan, she said that all the foreign trips of Wangchuk were taken on the invitation of prestigious universities and institutions.
He told ‘PTI-language’, ‘We attended a conference organized by the United Nations and it focused on climate change. The glacier located on the top of the Himalayas will not see whether I am flowing in Pakistan or in India. He said, ‘The’ Breed Pakistan ‘conference held in February was organized by the United Nations Pakistan and Don Media and included multinational cooperation. There are organizations like ICIMOD, which bring all eight Hindu Kush countries together and work on various issues. We are part of the ICIMOD Himalayan University Consortium. The International International Integrated Hill Development Center (ICIMOD) is a Nepal -based organization which was established in 1983 and includes eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region – India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.
Angammo raised questions on the response of security forces
Questioning the response of the security forces, Angamo said, ‘My question is, who gave CRPF right to shoot? Why did you shoot at your own people, your own youth? ‘ On the charge of giving inflammatory speech by Wangchuk, Angamo claimed that his Ladakhi words were taken out of the context and misrepresented.
Angamo said, ‘He just said that when there is a change, it can start with a person or with the death of a person and that person can also be; I am ready to give my life happily for this.
Angamo’s reply on allegations of financial irregularities related to institutions
On allegations of financial irregularities associated with its institutions, Angamo presented a detailed defense regarding foreign funds, UGC registration, FCRA cancellation of SECMOL and land allocation. Angamo denied that HIAL took donations from abroad without the approval of the Foreign contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and claimed that this amount was paid for their techniques.
He said, ‘We have service agreements, according to which this is a counseling work that we are giving to HIAL, for which we will pay them.’ He also said that HIAL does not charge any fee from its 400 students and raises money for spending through innovations like snow stupas and passive solar buildings. He said that they do not patent their techniques, so that they are available for free for public use.
Angamo said that HIAL had applied for registration in the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2022 and paid an amount of Rs 15 lakh. He said that despite this, if registration has not been done, then the reason is that they are avoiding it. He also claimed that the lease of land of HIAL has stopped because the administration of the Union Territory has no category for such institutions. He further said, “While questions are being raised on HIAL, the Indus Central University, which started in 2021, still has no building.”
Union Ministry canceled FCRA license of Wangchuk’s organization
Following the violence of September 4, the Union Home Ministry had canceled the FCRA license given by the Union Home Ministry to ‘Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh’, established by Wangchuk, citing alleged financial discrepancies.
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