Delhi police took activist Sonam Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18 after a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar [1].
The hospitalization of the 59-year-old [2] educationist marks a critical juncture in his public protest, highlighting the physical toll of his demands and the legal tensions surrounding his detention.
Wangchuk began his hunger strike on June 28 [3]. Reports on the exact duration of the protest vary, with some sources citing a 20-day strike [4] and others noting the transfer occurred on the 21st day [5].
Police said the move was necessary because Wangchuk's health was deteriorating [6]. Authorities said the transfer complied with medical advice and an order from the Delhi High Court [6].
However, the circumstances of his removal from the protest site are contested. Some reports indicate that police forcibly removed Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar [7], while other accounts maintain the shift was a procedural response to health concerns and judicial mandates [6].
The protest took place in the heart of New Delhi, where Wangchuk had been fasting to draw attention to his cause. His transfer to Safdarjung Hospital ends the immediate physical presence of the strike at the public square, though the underlying issues remain unresolved.
“Delhi police took activist Sonam Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18”
The intersection of a High Court order and deteriorating health provided the legal and medical grounds for the state to end Wangchuk's public fast. The contradiction between police reports of a medical transfer and allegations of forced removal suggests a continuing conflict between the activist's right to protest and the government's duty of care and public order.
