Delhi Police transferred activist Sonam Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday morning after he completed a 20-day indefinite hunger strike [1].
The hospitalization marks a critical juncture in Wangchuk's protest at Jantar Mantar, where the educationist and climate activist sought to draw attention to regional grievances. His removal from the site follows a period of deteriorating health that prompted legal and police intervention.
Wangchuk's health decline led to a Delhi High Court order requiring daily health checks to prevent further harm. On July 18, 2026, police moved him from the protest site to the medical facility [2].
Medical officials provided an initial assessment of his condition upon arrival. Dr. Charu Bamba, the Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital, said, "He is stable and fully conscious but is experiencing mild dehydration and weakness due to prolonged fasting" [3].
Despite the transfer, reports regarding his cooperation with medical staff vary. A hospital spokesperson said that Wangchuk was refusing medication and IV fluids [1]. This resistance continues as he maintains his stance on the issues that triggered the fast.
Before his removal from the site, Wangchuk offered a final message regarding the volatility of political power. He said, "Govts have fallen over onions" [4].
The protest had lasted 20 days [1], during which Wangchuk used the hunger strike to pressure authorities on climate and administrative issues. His transfer to the hospital effectively ends the immediate physical occupation of the Jantar Mantar site by the activist.
“"He is stable and fully conscious but is experiencing mild dehydration and weakness due to prolonged fasting."”
The forced hospitalization of Sonam Wangchuk underscores the tension between individual protest rights and state obligations to preserve life. By intervening via a High Court order, the government avoids the political fallout of a death in custody while effectively neutralizing the visual and physical presence of the hunger strike at a high-profile location like Jantar Mantar.
