Delhi Police removed activist Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site on Saturday and shifted him to Safdarjung Hospital [1], [2].
The intervention marks a critical escalation in a protest centered on national education integrity. Wangchuk had been fasting to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following alleged leaks in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) papers [1], [2].
Wangchuk was moved on July 18, 2026 [3]. Police reportedly whisked the activist away in civilian clothes to facilitate the transfer to the medical facility [1]. The move occurred after a prolonged period of fasting, which reports place between 20 [2] and 21 days [1], [3].
Supporters of the protest expressed concern over the timing and nature of the police action. Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party, said, "Delhi Police is planning to crackdown on our protest during night or early hours of morning" [1].
Despite the forced removal and the duration of the strike, family members have indicated that the activist is stable. Sonam Wangchuk's wife said, "He is absolutely fine" [4].
The activist had utilized the high-visibility location of Jantar Mantar to draw attention to the NEET controversy, a scandal that has sparked widespread anger among students and parents across India [1], [2].
“"He is absolutely fine."”
The removal of Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar highlights the tension between the Indian government's security protocols and the right to public protest. By citing medical grounds for the transfer, the police effectively ended a high-profile hunger strike that had become a symbol of grievance over the NEET paper leaks, potentially diffusing the immediate physical crisis while leaving the underlying political demands unmet.
