Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been detained for nearly six months under the National Security Act (NSA), will be released after the central government decided to revoke the detention order.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the decision was taken after due consideration, noting that Wangchuk had already completed nearly half of the permissible detention period under the law.

In a statement, the government said the move was part of its broader effort to maintain peace and encourage dialogue in Ladakh.

According to the ministry, the government remains committed to creating an atmosphere of stability and mutual trust in the region so that constructive engagement with all stakeholders can continue.

The statement added that ongoing protests and bandhs had affected normal life and disrupted several sections of society, including students, job seekers, businesses, tour operators and tourists.

The government also reiterated its commitment to providing safeguards for Ladakh and expressed hope that regional concerns would be resolved through discussions, including through the High-Powered Committee and other dialogue mechanisms.

Detained after protests in Leh

Wangchuk was detained on September 26 last year, two days after violent protests broke out in Leh over demands for statehood and constitutional protection for Ladakh.

The clashes reportedly left four people dead and about 50 others injured, including security personnel.

Authorities detained Wangchuk under the NSA on the orders of the Leh district magistrate to maintain public order. He was later transferred to Jodhpur prison.

Long-running agitation over Ladakh safeguards

The activist has been one of the prominent voices in the movement seeking constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, particularly the inclusion of the Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Since 2023, Wangchuk has led campaigns highlighting the impact of climate change on Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem.

Last year, he undertook a 35-day fast demanding statehood and constitutional protections for the region. The protest eventually escalated into unrest, after which he called off the fast, saying his message of pursuing a peaceful path had not succeeded.

Legal challenge and court remarks

Wangchuk’s detention was challenged in the Supreme Court by his wife Gitanjali Angmo, an educator.

During the hearing, the court raised concerns about the translation of a speech cited as evidence for his detention. Judges observed that if a three-minute speech was transcribed into a seven- or eight-minute text, it could suggest possible malice.

Opposition reaction

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor welcomed the government’s decision to revoke the detention but questioned the length of time Wangchuk spent in custody.

In a post on social media platform X, Tharoor said the 169-day detention appeared excessively long and called on the Supreme Court to establish strict norms for the maximum period of detention without trial.

He also argued that indefinite detention without trial was a practice inherited from the colonial era and should not exist in a mature democracy.

Supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Trinamool Congress clashed in central Kolkata on Saturday morning ahead of a rally scheduled to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day.

The confrontation took place near Girish Park, roughly five kilometres from the Brigade Parade Ground where the prime minister is expected to address supporters.

Eyewitnesses reported that members from both political groups raised slogans and threw stones at each other during the confrontation. The clash created tension in the area as supporters were moving towards the rally venue.

According to BJP supporters, stones were allegedly thrown at them without provocation while they were heading towards the rally. One party activist told a Bengali news channel that the group was targeted suddenly and also faced verbal abuse.

However, local TMC workers rejected the allegations. They claimed that BJP supporters initiated the confrontation by hurling abuses and throwing stones first.

TMC supporters also alleged that stones were thrown towards the residence of local party leaders during the incident.

Police personnel were quickly deployed to the spot to control the situation and prevent further escalation. A large contingent of security forces intervened to restore order in the area.

The clash occurred about half an hour before the prime minister’s scheduled address at the Brigade Parade Ground. The rally marks the conclusion of the BJP’s statewide ‘Parivartan Yatra’ ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal.

During his visit, the prime minister is also expected to unveil and lay foundation stones for development projects valued at more than Rs 18,000 crore in the state.

A building in the financial district of Dubai was struck by debris from an intercepted aerial attack on Friday, marking the second such incident reported in less than 24 hours as tensions continue during the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

Authorities confirmed that debris from a successful interception hit the façade of a building in central Dubai. According to an official statement shared by the Dubai Media Office on social media platform X, the situation was quickly brought under control. Officials also said there was no fire and no injuries reported in the incident.

Witnesses described hearing a powerful blast in the area around the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), one of the emirate’s busiest financial hubs. A resident living nearby told media that the sound was the loudest they had ever heard and initially feared something catastrophic had happened.

Another correspondent reported hearing a massive double explosion that shook surrounding buildings and left a cloud of black smoke hanging over the district for some time before the situation stabilised.

Drone hits US embassy complex in Baghdad

In a separate development, a drone struck the United States Embassy Baghdad in Baghdad, according to Iraqi security officials. Media present near the area reported seeing smoke rising from inside the diplomatic compound after the strike.

Security sources confirmed that the drone attack directly targeted the embassy complex. Details about damage or casualties were not immediately available.

The attack occurred shortly after two strikes targeted positions linked to the Iran-backed group Kataeb Hezbollah. Security officials said the strikes killed two members of the group, including what was described as a key figure.

According to one security source, a missile hit a house used by the group at around 2:15 am local time. The source added that the strike resulted in the death of a senior member, while two others were wounded.

The incidents in Dubai and Baghdad come as the wider regional conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran continues to escalate into its 15th day, raising concerns about the spread of hostilities across the Middle East.