Delhi Police moved social activist Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18, 2026 [3], after his health deteriorated during a hunger strike.

The transfer marks a critical escalation in the activist's protest, as his physical collapse forced a legal and medical intervention to prevent further harm.

Wangchuk had been conducting an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. According to reports, he survived for 20 days [2] consuming only salt and water before his health collapsed. The deterioration occurred on the 21st day [1] of the strike, prompting the police to intervene and transport him for urgent medical care.

The move to Safdarjung Hospital followed an order from the Delhi High Court, which mandated that Wangchuk receive necessary medical attention. The court's directive came as the activist's condition became unstable due to the prolonged fast.

While the police action was framed as a medical necessity, the removal of Wangchuk from the protest site sparked immediate reactions. Protesters at Jantar Mantar reacted to the police intervention as the activist was shifted from the site of his demonstration to the healthcare facility.

Safdarjung Hospital is currently managing the activist's recovery. The specific medical details regarding his current stability have not been released, but the shift was executed to ensure his survival after three weeks of extreme fasting [1].

“Sonam Wangchuk was moved by Delhi Police from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital”

The forced hospitalization of Sonam Wangchuk illustrates the tension between the state's duty to preserve life and an individual's right to political protest through self-harm. By intervening via a High Court order, the government effectively ended the immediate physical threat to the activist while simultaneously removing a high-profile figure from a public protest space, potentially diffusing the immediate momentum of the hunger strike.