Sonam Wangchuk Forcibly Taken by Delhi Police, 21-Day Hunger Strike Ends

New Delhi, July 18: Social activist, engineer and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk is admitted to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday after Delhi Police removed him from his 21-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. While police said the move was necessary to protect his life after his health deteriorated, Wangchuk and his supporters alleged that he was forcibly taken away in a pre-dawn operation.

Police Shift Wangchuk to Hospital

According to Delhi Police, doctors monitoring Wangchuk's condition warned that his health had become critical after nearly three weeks of fasting. Acting on medical advice and in line with directions of the Delhi High Court to ensure his safety, authorities shifted him to Safdarjung Hospital for treatment.

Hospital officials later stated that Wangchuk was stable but physically weakened due to prolonged fasting and remains under continuous medical observation.

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Protesters Allege Forcible Removal

Wangchuk and organisers of the protest gave a different account of the incident. They alleged that police personnel, including some dressed in civilian clothes, arrived at Jantar Mantar during the early hours of July 18. According to the organisers, officers surrounded the area using white bedsheets to block the view of supporters and the media before forcibly removing Wangchuk from the protest site.

The protesters claimed the operation was carried out to end Wangchuk's 21-day indefinite hunger strike and alleged that several supporters were also detained during the police action.

Hunger Strike Demanded Education Reforms

The hunger strike was part of a nationwide campaign demanding justice and accountability in India's education system, particularly over alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks. Protest organisers accused the Union government of responding to a peaceful democratic protest with detentions and police action instead of engaging in dialogue.

In a statement issued after the incident, organisers condemned what they described as an "inhuman and anti-student, anti-youth" approach by the government and appealed to students, youth organisations and civil society groups across the country to unite in support of the movement.

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Abhijit Dipke Announces Indefinite Hunger Strike

Meanwhile, Abhijit Dipke, Chief of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), announced that he would begin an indefinite hunger strike to continue the movement following Wangchuk's hospitalisation.

Dipke said the campaign for examination reforms and accountability would continue until the protesters' demands are addressed. He asserted that shifting Wangchuk to the hospital would not end the movement and called upon students, teachers and citizens to continue supporting the cause.

Political and Public Reactions

The incident has triggered widespread political reactions and renewed debate over the right to peaceful protest, the handling of hunger strikes by authorities and the government's response to demands for reforms in the education sector.

With Wangchuk under medical care and Abhijit Dipke taking forward the agitation, the campaign is expected to continue in the coming days, keeping the issue of education reforms and democratic protests in the national spotlight.