Delhi Police transferred activist Sonam Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday, July 18, 2026, after his health deteriorated during a hunger strike [1], [2].

The hospitalization marks a critical turn in Wangchuk's effort to draw national attention to alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and his demands for accountability [1], [2].

Wangchuk began his indefinite fast on June 28, 2024 [1]. He staged the protest at Jantar Mantar, a prominent site for political demonstrations in New Delhi [1], [2].

Reports on the exact duration of the strike vary slightly. Some sources said he was moved after a 20-day hunger strike [1], while other reports said the transfer occurred on the 21st day of his fast [2].

Police intervened to move the activist to the medical facility as his physical condition declined. He was escorted from the protest site to Safdarjung Hospital for urgent care [1], [2].

Wangchuk has used the platform at Jantar Mantar to highlight systemic issues within the examination process. The strike was intended to pressure authorities to address these grievances, and ensure transparency in the competitive testing system [1], [2].

“Sonam Wangchuk was taken by Delhi Police to Safdarjung Hospital after his hunger strike deteriorated his health.”

The forced hospitalization of Sonam Wangchuk highlights the tension between civil disobedience and state responsibility for public health and safety. By utilizing a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, Wangchuk sought to leverage personal physical sacrifice to force a government response to examination irregularities. The intervention by Delhi Police effectively ends the immediate public visibility of the strike, shifting the focus from the protest site to a medical setting.