New Delhi, July 18, 2026 — In a dramatic early-morning operation, Delhi Police forcibly removed climate activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk from his hunger strike protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday and admitted him to Safdarjung Hospital, citing a Delhi High Court order and his deteriorating health after 20 days without food.
The 59-year-old activist, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28, had lost more than 9 kilograms and was consuming nothing but salt and water in the scorching summer heat. Doctors had warned that his prolonged fast had reached a critical stage, with the possibility of entering an “alarming” phase involving organ damage.
Police operation sparks chaos
Videos from the protest site showed chaos erupting just before 7:30 am local time when dozens of police and paramilitary personnel swooped in on the stage where Wangchuk was lying down. Protesters who tried to stop them were pushed away, and officers covered the activist with bedsheets before removing him from the stage. An ambulance was seen speeding away minutes later.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma said Wangchuk was moved “in compliance with [a court] order, and based on health conditions and medical advice”. “Sonam Wangchuk has been moved to a government hospital for much-needed medical intervention and is currently under medical supervision,” Sharma told reporters.
The Delhi High Court had on Thursday directed authorities to conduct daily clinical health checks of Wangchuk, observing that “the life of any citizen is precious”. The court had told the Centre that “anything and everything should be done to protect Wangchuk’s life”.
Police said some protesters attempted to obstruct the exercise, leading to a brief commotion, but officers exercised “maximum restraint”. The force also appealed to protesters at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the site.
Protest continues as Dipke takes over fast
Within hours of Wangchuk’s removal, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke began an indefinite hunger strike at the Jantar Mantar site. Dipke, who had been by Wangchuk’s side throughout the protest, broke down in tears following the activist’s removal.
Addressing protesters from the stage where Wangchuk had been seated, Dipke alleged that the activist was taken away forcibly without his or his family’s consent. “They say I am a national security threat. I am not. I am a citizen,” he said, appealing to people across the country to hold peaceful protests.
Three student activists from the All India Students’ Association — who have been on hunger strike alongside Wangchuk since he began his fast — continued their protest. Organisers said Neha, a JNU PhD scholar, has lost 7.5 kg; Ameen Amitoj from AUD has lost 9.5 kg; and Manish Kumar from Allahabad University has lost 10.5 kg.
Wife demands no treatment without consent
Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, who rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, issued a firm warning to medical authorities. “Nothing should be administered to him orally or intravenous without consent from me, his family and his doctors who have been monitoring his health for the past 20 days,” she posted on X.
“I forbid them from administering anything without my consent. No treatment should start without my consent. I hold everybody accountable if anything happens,” Angmo told PTI. She maintained that Wangchuk had been “doing fine” on Friday and questioned the need for hospitalisation. She also alleged that the administration and police were not sharing medical records and were not allowing her to take phones into the hospital room.
Opposition condemns police action
Several Opposition leaders strongly condemned the police action, accusing the government of suppressing peaceful protest.
AAP leader Manish Sisodia alleged the government was suppressing protests instead of addressing the issue of examination paper leaks. “So, this is the solution Modi ji has given for paper leaks… Beat up with goons whoever raises their voice against paper leaks and don’t let them raise their voice at all. This isn’t politics; it’s cowardice,” Sisodia wrote on X.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said the world was watching “democracy in India being broken by force, shamelessly”. Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav termed the police action “an assault on democracy and the Constitution”.
CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby condemned the police action against Wangchuk and Dipke, accusing the Centre of suppressing peaceful protests instead of acting against those responsible for the alleged examination scams.
July 20 Parliament march to proceed
Despite Wangchuk’s hospitalisation, CJP organisers insisted that the planned “Chalo Sansad” march to Parliament on July 20 would proceed as scheduled. The march coincides with the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session.
In a video message shared on Friday, Wangchuk had urged people to join the march in large numbers, saying public participation was the movement’s biggest strength. “I am weak from the outside but very strong inside. I will stay alive till July 20 at any cost,” he had told supporters. In a lighter vein, he had joked that if he died before the march, his “ghost would join the march”.
Background of the protest
The CJP began in May as an online satirical movement protesting against paper leaks and irregularities in India’s top examinations, gaining a massive following on social media. The protesters, who call themselves “cockroaches,” have been demonstrating for over a month, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after a key medical entrance exam was cancelled in early May following a paper leak.
Wangchuk joined the agitation at Jantar Mantar on June 28 and had remained on an indefinite hunger strike since then. Pradhan has dismissed the CJP and its supporters as “the B-team of disruptive elements”.
Security has been tightened in and around Jantar Mantar, across parts of New Delhi district, and at Safdarjung Hospital, with additional police personnel deployed to maintain law and order.
Hospital officials said Wangchuk was weak due to prolonged fasting and dehydration but his vital parameters were stable at the time of admission.
