Delhi Police shifted activist Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18, 2026 [2].
The transfer marks a critical turn in the activist's public protest, as his deteriorating physical state forced a medical intervention following a prolonged fast.
Wangchuk was removed from the site on what some reports describe as the 21st day [1] of his hunger strike, though other reports cite a 20-day fast [3]. The operation to move the activist involved a coordinated effort by law enforcement to ensure his safety during the transition. Delhi Police personnel formed a human chain and used white bedsheets to shield the activist before lifting him from his bed, a reporter for MSN said [4].
Police officials said the move was necessary based on legal and medical guidance. "As per orders of High Court and on expert medical advise due to the deteriorating health condition of Sonam Wangchuk," a Delhi Police spokesperson said [1].
Authorities in the capital city moved the social activist after his condition worsened [2]. The shift from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital was carried out by plainclothes officers and uniformed personnel who used the sheets to maintain a perimeter around the activist [4, 5].
Following his arrival at the hospital, medical staff began assessing his condition. His wife has reportedly sought family consent before any specific medical interventions are performed [3]. The activist's health had become a focal point of the protests at Jantar Mantar, where he had been fasting to draw attention to his cause.
“Delhi Police personnel formed a human chain and used white bedsheets to shield the activist”
The forced removal of Sonam Wangchuk by the Delhi Police highlights the tension between state security and the right to protest via hunger strikes. By citing High Court orders and medical necessity, the government manages the legal risk of an activist dying in police custody while simultaneously ending the visual spectacle of the protest at Jantar Mantar.
