190 पटक हेरिएको 
Darjeeling, India — Ajoy Edwards, President of the Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF) and a senior, widely respected Gorkha leader from Darjeeling, has written an open letter to His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan, appealing for mercy for Nepali-speaking political prisoners who have spent decades in prison for non-violent dissent.
The letter was published on Mr Edwards’ Facebook page on 4 January 2026, where he has more than 86,000 followers. It quickly drew attention across the Terai, Dooars, and the Hills, prompting responses from civil society groups and rights advocates.
In his appeal, Mr Edwards refers to Bhutan’s reputation for compassion and moral leadership and urges the King to use his constitutional powers to grant pardons or commute sentences. He cautions against further deaths in custody after 35 years of torturous jail life, citing the death of Sha Bahadur Gurung, and argues that an act of mercy would strengthen justice and open the way for reconciliation and healing.
The issue has received renewed visibility following coverage by The Telegraph and DarjeelingTimes bringing a largely forgotten humanitarian concern into India’s mainstream media. Observers say such coverage in any indian media is significant, as sustained attention from regional media lends credibility and urgency to an issue that has long remained on the margins of public discourse.
The Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB), which has long advocated for this issue, welcomed the intervention. Ram Karki of GCRPPB said the statement carried particular weight because it came from a prominent Indian political leader from the adjoining region. He added that support of this kind, especially when amplified by mainstream Indian media, has a major impact on Bhutan’s authority to act compassionately on this issue.
Campaigners believe that the combination of a principled appeal by a respected leader and national media attention may help bring renewed focus to the plight of Bhutan’s political prisoners and encourage meaningful steps towards justice and compassion.
Further background on prison conditions in Bhutan is available in a recent Human Rights Watch report.
