Delhi Police shifted activist Sonam Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday after he underwent a prolonged hunger strike [1], [2].
The hospitalization marks a critical escalation in the health risks facing Wangchuk, whose fast was intended to draw attention to specific political and regional grievances. The intervention by authorities highlights the tension between state-mandated medical care and the autonomy of protesters during hunger strikes.
Wangchuk was removed from his protest site at Jantar Mantar and transported to the medical facility [3]. Reports on the exact duration of his fast vary slightly, with sources citing the event occurring on either the 20th [3] or 21st [1] day of his hunger strike.
His wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, issued a warning to medical staff and authorities regarding his care. She said that no medical interventions should be performed without her explicit approval.
"He is at Safdarjung Hospital. I forbid them from administering anything without my consent," Angmo said [1]. "No treatment should start without my consent. I hold everybody accountable if anything happens" [1].
Angmo reiterated her position in further statements, saying that nothing should be done to him without her consent [4]. The police confirmed the move, saying that the activist had been fasting for 21 days before being taken to the hospital [3].
The shift to Safdarjung Hospital [3] comes as Wangchuk's physical condition likely deteriorated due to the lack of food and water. The police move was described as a measure to provide necessary medical care for the activist [5].
“"I forbid them from administering anything without my consent."”
The conflict over consent in this case underscores a legal and ethical struggle often seen in high-profile hunger strikes. While the state views hospitalization as a life-saving necessity, the activist's family views unauthorized medical intervention as a violation of the protester's agency and the integrity of their political statement.
