Delhi Police Shift Sonam Wangchuk to Hospital After 20-Day Hunger Strike
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for 20 days, was removed from his protest site at Jantar Mantar early Saturday morning and transported to Safdarjung Hospital in central Delhi for medical treatment. The action, which took place around 7:00 am, has drawn allegations of forceful evacuation from fellow protesters and supporters.
According to the Delhi Police, the intervention was carried out in compliance with directions from the Delhi High Court and based on the advice of medical experts concerned over Wangchuk’s deteriorating health. Security personnel, including representatives from the Delhi Police, the Rapid Action Force (RAF), and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), arrived at the site to disperse the gathering and secure Wangchuk's transfer to the hospital.
Police Action at Jantar Mantar
The evacuation led to brief confrontations between security forces and the gathered protesters. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) stated that while complying with the High Court's orders, some protesters attempted to obstruct the process, resulting in a "slight commotion." The police maintained that they exercised maximum restraint to complete the transfer safely and have requested the remaining protesters to vacate Jantar Mantar peacefully.
During the operation, RAF personnel dismantled banners from the makeshift stage where the protest was being held. Despite repeated announcements from the police asking the crowd to leave, several volunteers and supporters refused to vacate the premises, forming a human chain around Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) member Abhijeet Dipke.
Demands for Resignation and Escalation
Wangchuk’s 20-day hunger strike was launched in support of the CJP’s demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest was initiated over an alleged NEET paper leak and what the organizers describe as systemic lapses within the national examination process.
Following the police action on Saturday, Dipke addressed the remaining crowd, asserting that the movement would continue. He stated that the protest has been peaceful and remains guided by the values of Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar. Dipke also announced an escalation in their political demands, stating that the group would now demand the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in response to the police intervention.
Allegations of Assault and Prior Incidents
In social media posts, Dipke alleged that the Delhi Police used force during the crackdown, claiming that individuals were beaten and that Wangchuk was taken away forcefully. Dipke later stated that he had also been assaulted and placed under detention by the police.
The evacuation follows reports of tension at the protest site on Friday night. Protesters claimed that two individuals attempted to disrupt the gathering and threw an object at Wangchuk. According to Dipke, Wangchuk was not injured in the incident, and the individuals involved were subsequently taken away by the police. Dipke had previously claimed to have received insider information warning of potential disruptions aimed at dismantling the peaceful protest.
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