The development comes days after Apex Body Leh announced a mega protest in Leh city against the unmet promises of the Centre.
The central government has decided to revoke the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under NSA with immediate effect, the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Saturday.
The decision, it said, has been taken to further the dialogue with all stakeholders on the aspirations and concerns of the people of the region.
The development comes around six months after the climate activist was detained under NSA, one of the most stringent laws of the country, following a serious law and order situation that arose in the peace-loving town of Leh on 24 September 2025, resulting in the deaths of 4 people and injury to 90 people in a clash between security forces and the civilians.
According to the ministry, Wangchuk was “detained on 26 September 2025 under the provisions of the National Security Act (NSA) pursuant to an order issued by the District Magistrate, Leh, with a view to maintaining public order.”
The ministry said the Centre has been actively engaging with various stakeholders and community leaders in Ladakh with a view to addressing the aspirations and concerns of the people of the region.
However, it noted that the prevailing “atmosphere of bandhs and protests has been detrimental to the peace-loving character of the society and has adversely affected various sections of the community, including students, job aspirants, businesses, tour operators and tourists and overall economy.”
The development comes days after Apex Body Leh announced a mega public rally in Leh city against the unmet promises of the Centre and the detention of the climate activist under NSA.
The ministry, in its communication today, said “the government is committed to fostering an environment of peace, stability, and mutual trust in Ladakh so as to facilitate constructive and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders. In furtherance of this objective, and after due consideration, the Government has decided to revoke the detention of Shri Sonam Wangchuk with immediate effect by exercising the powers available under the National Security Act.”
It reiterated its commitment to providing all necessary safeguards for Ladakh, while adding that it is hopeful that the issues concerning the region will be resolved through “constructive engagement and dialogue, including through the mechanism of the High-Powered Committee as well as other appropriate platforms.”
The Apex Body had earlier announced that it would organize a mega public rally on March 12. However, at the request of the administration, the rally has been postponed to March 16.
Addressing a press conference in Leh on 10 Mar 2026, Apex Body Co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook said that the administration requested the body to postpone the rally, citing the oath-taking ceremony of the newly appointed LG of Ladakh on March 13 and the temporary unavailability of police personnel in the district, as they remain deployed in Kargil district.
The administration has now granted permission for the rally to be held on March 16. A similar rally will also be held in Kargil on the same day, Lakrook said, as reported by local media.
Lakrook further said during the press conference that the administration had requested the body to hold the rally after March 25. However, this proposal was not acceptable to the Apex Body, which resulted in the administration agreeing to allow the rally on March 16.
The Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) are yet to comment on the latest development.
(For more news apart from “Centre revokes Sonam Wangchuk’s detention under NSA days after leaders announced a mega protest," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
