Delhi Police evacuated protesters from Jantar Mantar on July 2, 2026, after activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to a hospital [1].
The incident marks a volatile escalation in the protest, pitting government claims of medical necessity against activist allegations of police brutality.
Wangchuk had been on a hunger strike for five days when his health deteriorated [2]. According to reports from PTI, his blood sugar level dropped to 60 mg/dL and his blood pressure remained low [3]. These medical complications prompted the police to move him to a medical facility [1].
Following Wangchuk's removal, Delhi Police cleared the site of hundreds of protesters who had been camped at Jantar Mantar [4]. The evacuation occurred amid extreme weather conditions, with ambient temperatures exceeding 40 °C [4].
Supporters of the movement, including the CJP, allege the police operation was not a medical rescue but a forced removal. Abhijeet Dipke, a supporter, said, "I was beaten up, detained" [5]. Other supporters said that police used force against the crowd during the clearance of the site [1].
Delhi Police said the evacuation was necessary because Wangchuk's worsening health required immediate hospitalization [1]. However, the nature of the removal remains a point of contention. While medical reports highlighted the drop in blood sugar, Wangchuk wrote via X that he was "still fine, but it's very noisy here" [6].
The protest site had become a focal point for activists, some of whom utilized unconventional methods to draw attention to their cause. The removal of the camp ends a period of high-visibility demonstration in the heart of the capital.
“"I was beaten up, detained"”
The clash between the Delhi Police and the CJP supporters illustrates the tension between state-mandated public order and the right to protest. By framing the evacuation as a medical emergency, the government can justify the removal of a high-profile activist, while the allegations of assault from supporters suggest a strategy of deterrence against the broader protest movement.
