Delhi Police asked protesters at Jantar Mantar to vacate the site on July 18, 2026, after removing activist Sonam Wangchuk [1].
The removal of Wangchuk marks a critical turning point in the prolonged demonstration, as police seek to clear the site following the activist's medical emergency.
Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital for medical care after reaching day 21 of his hunger strike [2]. A Delhi Police spokesperson said, "We have shifted Mr. Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital for medical care and request the protesters to vacate Jantar Mantar peacefully" [3].
Other officials noted the move was carried out under a specific legal mandate. "The activist has been shifted to Safdarjung Hospital as per the Delhi High Court's order," a police official said [4].
While police described the process as a medical necessity to avoid further unrest, some supporters of the movement contested the narrative. Activists alleged in a report that police had kidnapped Wangchuk [5].
Despite these allegations, authorities continued to urge those remaining at Jantar Mantar to leave the area peacefully [3]. The site had become a focal point for CJP students, and other environmental supporters, during the three-week strike [2].
The police action follows a period of increasing tension at the protest site. While official statements emphasized a peaceful request to vacate, separate reports indicated a more restrictive atmosphere, including the detention of a woman for throwing ink at a protester [6].
“"We have shifted Mr. Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital for medical care and request the protesters to vacate Jantar Mantar peacefully"”
The transition of Sonam Wangchuk from a public hunger strike to hospital care provides the Delhi Police with a legal and humanitarian justification to dismantle the protest site. By citing a High Court order and medical necessity, the state can frame the clearance of Jantar Mantar as a health intervention rather than a political crackdown, though the conflicting claims of 'kidnapping' by activists suggest deep mistrust between the protesters and law enforcement.
