Delhi police removed activist Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site and took him to a hospital early Saturday morning [1], [2].
The incident marks a critical escalation in the public outcry over the alleged NEET exam paper leak. Wangchuk's hunger strike aimed to pressure Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for accountability regarding the integrity of the national medical entrance exam.
Wangchuk was removed on the 21st day of his hunger strike [1]. The action occurred on 18 July 2026 [3]. While some reports indicate he had fasted for 20 days [2], other sources confirm the removal happened on day 21 [1].
A Delhi Police spokesperson said, "As per orders of the High Court and on expert medical advice due to the deteriorating health condition of Sonam Wangchuk, we have taken him to hospital" [2].
However, the operation was not viewed as purely medical by those on the ground. Protesters said the removal triggered dramatic scenes as they alleged they were forcibly cleared from the protest site [4]. These accounts contrast with the official police narrative of a health-based intervention.
Despite his hospitalization, Wangchuk continues to call for public mobilization. He said, "I have urged people to join a protest march to Parliament on 20 July" [5].
The protest at Jantar Mantar had become a focal point for students and activists concerned with education reform and government transparency. The forceful removal of a high-profile figure like Wangchuk often intensifies public sentiment against the authorities, particularly when the grievance involves the future of thousands of medical aspirants.
“"As per orders of the High Court and on expert medical advice... we have taken him to hospital."”
The hospitalization of Sonam Wangchuk highlights the tension between state security measures and the right to protest in India. By citing High Court orders and medical necessity, the government attempts to frame the removal as a humanitarian act, while the protesters' claims of force suggest a desire to dismantle the physical site of dissent. The scheduled march to Parliament on 20 July serves as a litmus test for whether the removal of the strike leader will dampen the movement or catalyze further public anger over the NEET paper leak.
