After the Leh violence, the case of environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, arrested under the National Security Act, has reached the Supreme Court. His Gitanjali J. Angamo has filed a petition in the apex court, calling the arrest illegal and unconstitutional. According to the Supreme Court office, the case has been listed on 6 October.
The hearing of this petition was Justice Arvind Kumar and Justice N. V. will be in front of Anjaria’s back. It has been demanded that the Ladakh administration should be ordered that Sonam Wangchuk should be produced in the court immediately and his detention should be canceled. Sonam was detained by the Deputy Commissioner of Leh on 26 September under Section 3 (2) of the National Security Act.
Sonam Wangchuk was on a long fast demanding state status to Ladakh and constitutional protection of the sixth schedule. During this time, four people were killed and 90 people were injured in violent clashes. After this, Sonam Wangchuk was kept directly to Jodhpur Jail in Rajasthan without any case.
Gitanjali made serious allegations
It has been said in the petition that after taking custody, neither Sonam Wangchuk was given medicines nor allowed personal items. They have not been given the facility to meet family and lawyer. Gitanjali alleged that he too was almost under house arrest in Leh. Students and employees of his institute Himalayan Institute of Alternatives are facing harassment.
Question on national security law
Gitanjali has argued in her petition that Sonam Wangchuk has always agitated in Gandhian and peaceful ways. Despite being an internationally respected environmentalist, the imposition of NSA against them shows disagreement and government effort to suppress peaceful movement. His arrest has given deep mental anguish to the society of the entire Ladakh, not only the family.
Demands placed in Supreme Court
Gitanjali has demanded the court to give this directive in his petition …
– Sonam Wangchuk should be produced in court immediately.
– The order of custody and its base should be made public.
– Medicines, clothes, food and basic facilities should be provided to Sonam Wangchuk.
– They should be allowed to meet family and lawyer.
– After consulting the doctor, the medical report should be submitted to the Supreme Court.
– The harassment and investigation on the students should be closed immediately.
Political and social influence
It has been clearly written in this petition that false propagation and Jodhpur transfer to connect Sonam Wangchuk with foreign institutions is an attempt to crush democratic disagreement. It has been appealed to the court to stop this malicious action and ensure the release of Sonam Wangchuk. Now everyone’s eyes are on 6 October, when the Supreme Court will hear this sensitive case.
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