Sonam Wangchuk, who has worked for decades as an innovator and education reformer, was detained in September last year under the National Security Act (NSA), which empowers the government to act preemptively against persons considered a threat to public order or national security.

Amid the celebratory music, Chavda was abruptly silenced by the sound of unsheathed swords as his procession was intercepted by a group of men from the dominant community.

The flight, AI 132, was scheduled to fly from Heathrow airport in England to Bengaluru. Air India has also reportedly communicated the incident to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation — India’s top aviation watchdog.