Delhi Police removed activist Sonam Wangchuk from his protest site at Jantar Mantar early Saturday morning and transferred him to Safdarjung Hospital [1, 3].
The incident marks a critical escalation in the tensions between the Indian government and activists advocating for regional protections. The removal of a high-profile figure during a hunger strike often signals a shift in state strategy toward managing public dissent.
Wangchuk was taken from the site on the 21st day of his hunger strike [3]. Other reports indicate the action occurred after the strike had lasted 20 days [1]. The operation to move the activist was captured on video, showing police escorting him away from the protest area [3].
Delhi Police said the removal was necessary because Wangchuk's health had deteriorated and a High Court direction required his transfer [3]. The police said they acted in accordance with judicial orders to ensure the activist received medical attention.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), said the removal was forced and intended to intimidate protesters [1]. Dipke said the police had previously cut off water supply and sanitation facilities, including portable toilets, at the Jantar Mantar site to disrupt the strike [1, 2].
Protesters said Wangchuk was dragged from the site, suggesting the police used force rather than a medical escort [3]. These claims contrast with the official police narrative regarding a health-based transfer mandated by the court [3].
“Delhi Police removed activist Sonam Wangchuk from his protest site at Jantar Mantar early Saturday morning”
The removal of Sonam Wangchuk highlights the friction between judicial mandates for public health and the political act of hunger striking. By citing a High Court order and deteriorating health, the state justifies the intervention as a humanitarian necessity, while activists view it as a tactical move to dismantle a visible protest. The allegations regarding the removal of basic sanitation facilities suggest a broader strategy of attrition used to pressure protesters before physical removal occurs.
