Delhi Police removed activist Sonam Wangchuk from an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar and shifted him to a hospital [1, 3].
The incident escalates tensions between activists and authorities over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Wangchuk had been fasting to protest alleged irregularities in the examination process [4, 5].
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), broke down emotionally following the removal [1, 5]. Dipke said Wangchuk was not a criminal [5]. He said Wangchuk did not want to go to the hospital but was taken away and hidden under white sheets [5].
Police officials said Wangchuk was shifted to the medical facility for medical reasons [2]. However, the CJP describes the removal as forced and unjustified [4, 5].
Dipke also alleged that he was beaten and put under detention by police during the operation [2]. In response to the events, Dipke said he would begin his own indefinite hunger strike [1, 4].
The confrontation took place at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, a traditional site for public protests [1, 5].
“"He's not a criminal"”
The forced removal of a high-profile activist like Sonam Wangchuk, coupled with allegations of police brutality against Dipke, signals a hardening of the state's approach toward NEET exam protests. By shifting the hunger strike from a public square to a hospital, authorities effectively neutralize the visual impact of the protest, while the subsequent strike by Dipke suggests the movement may seek to sustain momentum despite police intervention.
