New Delhi [India], July 18 – Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was admitted to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday after police forcefully removed him from an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, where he had fasted for 20 days in protest over the alleged NEET-UG examination paper leak.
The hospital said Wangchuk was admitted at 7:40 am after being brought from the protest site. Doctors said he was suffering from weakness, dehydration and the effects of prolonged fasting. While his condition is currently stable he requires continuous observation, monitoring and treatment to restore his health.
Delhi Police said the removal followed medical advice and complied with directions issued by the Delhi High Court which had instructed authorities to regularly assess Wangchuk’s health and ensure medical intervention whenever necessary. Police said officers acted with restraint despite attempts to obstruct the operation.
Video footage from the scene showed police personnel surrounding Wangchuk with white sheets before carrying him to a waiting ambulance. Security was later tightened at both Safdarjung hospital and Jantar Mantar.
Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo questioned the need for his hospitalisation saying he had appeared stable a day earlier. She urged the hospital not to administer any oral or intravenous treatment without the consent of the family and the doctors who had been supervising his fast.
Despite Wangchuk’s removal organisers said the protest would continue. Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijit Dipke announced he would carry on the indefinite hunger strike and alleged he was assaulted and briefly detained during the police operation claims denied by Delhi Police.
Wangchuk began the fast on June 28, demanding accountability over the alleged NEET-UG examination paper leak a judicial probe into examination related irregularities and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
