Sonam Wangchuk Hospitalised After 21-Day Hunger Strike as Delhi Police Remove Him from Jantar Mantar

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The dramatic removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in the early hours of Saturday has intensified an already volatile protest over alleged examination irregularities, triggering a fresh political confrontation and sparking concerns about the treatment of peaceful demonstrators. After completing 21 days of an indefinite hunger strike, Wangchuk was shifted by Delhi Police to Safdarjung Hospital, where doctors said he was weak due to prolonged fasting and dehydration but remained in stable condition under continuous medical observation.

The police said the decision to move Wangchuk to the hospital followed medical advice and directions issued by the Delhi High Court. Officials maintained that the action was taken solely to ensure that the activist received essential medical care after his condition deteriorated during the prolonged fast. Security was significantly tightened around Jantar Mantar, Safdarjung Hospital, and several locations across New Delhi to prevent any disruption after the transfer.

The development, however, immediately escalated tensions at the protest site. Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke announced that he had begun an indefinite hunger strike shortly after Wangchuk was taken to the hospital. In a post on X, Dipke declared, “I am starting an indefinite hunger strike beginning right now,” describing his decision as a continuation of the movement demanding accountability over alleged paper leaks and reforms in the country’s examination system.

Dipke also alleged that he had been beaten and detained by Delhi Police during the operation. Protest organisers accused authorities of attempting to dismantle the agitation through force instead of engaging with demonstrators. Delhi Police rejected suggestions of excessive action, insisting that the priority was to safeguard Wangchuk’s health and urging protesters to vacate the protest site peacefully.

The protest has centred on allegations of irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and demands for greater transparency in India’s examination system. Wangchuk began his indefinite fast on June 28, arguing that repeated examination controversies had severely damaged the confidence of millions of students and their families. His protest quickly evolved into a wider campaign calling for accountability from the Union Education Ministry and structural reforms to prevent future paper leaks.

Doctors at Safdarjung Hospital confirmed that Wangchuk was admitted at approximately 7.40 am on Saturday. In an official medical statement, the hospital said the activist was suffering from weakness caused by prolonged fasting and dehydration. While his condition was stable, doctors noted that continuous monitoring and treatment would be necessary to restore his vital health parameters.

Soon after his hospitalisation, Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, publicly appealed to authorities not to begin any medical treatment without her consent. She confirmed that he had been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital and said, “No treatment should start without my consent. I hold everybody accountable if anything happens.” Her statement added another layer of controversy to the government’s handling of the situation and drew widespread attention on social media.

The protest movement also faced fresh uncertainty after organisers claimed that three student activists associated with the All India Students’ Association (AISA) experienced worsening health conditions as their own indefinite hunger strike entered its twenty-first day. According to protest organisers, activists Neha, Aameen and Manish continued their fast despite Wangchuk’s removal from the site.

Neha alleged that around seven in the morning, several individuals dressed in plain clothes entered the protest area before Wangchuk was taken away in what she described as a forced removal under the pretext of medical care. She further claimed that police personnel attempted to enter the tent where the three student activists were staying and tried to detain them. According to her, volunteers present at the site prevented those attempts, allowing the protest to continue. Organisers reiterated that the agitation would not end until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned over the alleged examination irregularities.

Political reactions poured in throughout the day, with several opposition leaders accusing the Centre of suppressing peaceful democratic protests. Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal criticised the government’s response, saying dialogue should have been the preferred path rather than coercive action. He argued that meaningful reforms in the education and examination system were necessary instead of attempting to end the movement through police intervention. Kejriwal described the removal of Wangchuk as evidence that the government had failed to address the concerns of students.

The Aam Aadmi Party also issued a separate statement accusing the Centre of using force and intimidation instead of resolving the issues raised by protesters. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh claimed the government had ignored repeated appeals for dialogue while relying on police action to disperse a peaceful movement.

Criticism extended beyond the AAP. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghosh condemned what she described as coercive state action and questioned the government’s handling of peaceful protests. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut shared videos from Jantar Mantar and alleged that Wangchuk had been forcibly removed from the protest site.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary M.A. Baby also criticised the Centre, arguing that the government was targeting protesters instead of addressing allegations surrounding examination paper leaks. He said those responsible for compromising the future of students should face accountability rather than allowing peaceful demonstrators to become the focus of police action.

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar described the government’s response as irresponsible, arguing that officials had remained passive throughout the protest until Wangchuk’s health reached a critical stage. Pawar maintained that transferring the activist to hospital would not end the movement because the underlying demands remained unresolved.

The developments also attracted international attention. Members of US-based advocacy groups, including Hindus for Human Rights and the Azadi Project, organised a solidarity gathering near the Indian Embassy in Washington. Demonstrators carried placards supporting Wangchuk and called for reforms in India’s examination system while demanding accountability from the Union Education Ministry.

Despite Wangchuk’s hospitalisation, organisers insisted that the movement would continue. Volunteers remained stationed at Jantar Mantar while additional security personnel and barricades were deployed across the area to prevent any escalation. Authorities monitored the situation closely as supporters continued arriving at the protest site throughout the day.

The unfolding events have transformed what began as a protest over alleged examination irregularities into a broader political debate over the right to peaceful protest, the government’s handling of dissent, and the urgent demand for credibility in India’s competitive examination system. As Wangchuk remains under medical supervision and fresh hunger strikes begin in his support, the confrontation appears far from over, with both protesters and political parties preparing for the next phase of an increasingly significant national movement.