Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was hospitalized on June 30, 2026 [3], after beginning an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
The protest sought constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, including statehood and Sixth Schedule status. This movement highlights the region's struggle for political autonomy and addresses alleged examination irregularities affecting local students.
Wangchuk's fast entered its second day on June 28 [1]. Supporters from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said that Delhi Police denied the activist a portable toilet and cut water and sanitation facilities shortly after the strike began.
By the 11th day of the protest, reports indicated that Wangchuk's health had deteriorated [2]. On June 30, 2026, Delhi Police removed him from the protest site and transported him to a hospital [3].
Accounts of the removal differ between authorities and protesters. Delhi Police said Wangchuk was taken to the hospital because his health was worsening and required medical monitoring. Conversely, CJP supporters said he was forcefully taken away and that police used violence against those protesting at the site.
Following the hospitalization, Delhi Police cleared Jantar Mantar. The CJP continues to say that the police used force against protesters during the clearance operation.
“Sonam Wangchuk was hospitalized on June 30, 2026, after beginning an indefinite hunger strike.”
The hospitalization of Sonam Wangchuk and the subsequent police clearance of Jantar Mantar signal a period of high tension between Ladakh reformers and the central government. The demand for Sixth Schedule status is a bid to protect the fragile ecology and cultural identity of the high-altitude region from external commercial interests. The conflicting narratives regarding the use of force and the denial of basic amenities suggest a deteriorating relationship between the state and civil activists in the capital.
