Delhi Police on Saturday morning ended activist Sonam Wangchuk's 20-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar by removing him from the protest site and shifting him to Safdarjung Hospital in a swift operation that unfolded within minutes.
According to visuals from the scene, the operation began shortly after 7 am. Police personnel, both in uniform and plain clothes, moved onto the stage where Wangchuk was fasting. While one group of officers surrounded the activist, another formed a human chain around the stage to prevent protesters from approaching.
Uniformed officers simultaneously began clearing the protest site, while plainclothes personnel proceeded directly to Wangchuk without interacting with the organisers or supporters.
A brief scuffle broke out when protesters attempted to stop the police action. Officers then surrounded Wangchuk with white bedsheets, shielding him from public view and television cameras.
Within minutes, the 59-year-old activist, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike for nearly three weeks, was lifted from his bed using a white sheet and carried to a waiting ambulance before being taken to Safdarjung Hospital.
The operation was captured in a video shared on X by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chief spokesperson Saurav Das, who wrote that Delhi Police had "forcefully" taken Wangchuk away.
Wangchuk began his hunger strike on June 28 as part of the CJP's campaign demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a judicial probe into alleged examination irregularities, and wider reforms in the country's examination system. He was also scheduled to participate in a march to Parliament on Monday, the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
CJP alleges excessive force
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke accused Delhi Police of using excessive force during the operation. He alleged that Wangchuk, despite having fasted for nearly three weeks, was forcibly removed from the protest site.
According to Dipke, police arrived around 7 am and dragged Wangchuk away while allegedly abusing him. He also claimed that he was assaulted by police personnel when he rushed to Jantar Mantar after learning about the operation.
Police cite court order and medical advice
Delhi Police, however, maintained that Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital in compliance with the Delhi High Court's directions and based on expert medical advice because of his deteriorating health.
In a statement, the police said that Wangchuk was moved to the hospital for essential medical care in accordance with the High Court's orders. It added that some protesters attempted to obstruct the operation, leading to a brief commotion, but claimed that officers exercised maximum restraint and completed the process safely. Police also appealed to protesters to vacate Jantar Mantar peacefully.
Sources at Safdarjung Hospital said Wangchuk was admitted to the emergency ward and that he was conscious and his vital signs were stable.
High Court's earlier directions
The police action came two days after the Delhi High Court directed the government to ensure that Wangchuk received any medical intervention considered necessary by the doctors monitoring his condition.
While hearing a petition seeking urgent medical care for the activist, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia ordered daily medical examinations and directed the authorities to provide treatment whenever required, observing that "the life of any citizen is precious."
According to the physician monitoring Wangchuk's health, the activist had lost more than 9 kilograms by the 20th day of his hunger strike. On Friday, Wangchuk had stated that he had lost nearly 20 per cent of his body weight since beginning the indefinite fast.
