While Delhi Police transferred climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site at Jantar Mantar, demonstrators protested vehemently, claiming that Wangchuk was taken against his will to the hospital. Abhijit Deepki, one of the founders of the Janata Cockroach Party, claimed that the officers dragged Wangchuk away despite his deteriorating health after a 20-day hunger strike.
Speaking to ANI, Debke claimed that police personnel arrived at the protest site early in the morning and forcefully removed Wangchuk.
Read more: ‘Government will be responsible if…’: Abhijit Debaki says Sonam Wangchuk was attacked amid hunger strike, ‘object thrown’
“At 7 am, when I went out to freshen up, the cops arrived here. They dragged Sonam Sir away while hurling abuse at him. The Delhi Police pulled out a 60-year-old man, who was on a hunger strike for 20 days and had not eaten anything. We have no idea where they took him. When I got the news and was on my way to Jantar Mantar from my friend’s house, the police assaulted me. Well… These are not police officers, they are RSS goons. I have returned to my country from abroad; Am I a criminal?
Meanwhile, Sourav Das, chief spokesperson of the Janata Party, also claimed that the police arrested Dipki and removed Wangchuk from the protest site.
He wrote on X: “Abhijit Deepki has been arrested by Delhi Police where he was staying. People are telling me that Sonam Wangchuk has been arrested from the protest site. Students are being beaten with lathis!”
Delhi Police on Saturday began removing protesters at Jantar Mantar after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to hospital on the 21st day of his hunger strike. In a post shared on
“In accordance with the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and based on expert medical advice due to the deteriorating health condition of Sheikh Sonam Wangchuk, he was transferred to hospital for basic medical care. While complying with the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the protesters attempted to create obstruction, resulting in minor disturbances, but the police exercised utmost restraint and carried out the exercise safely.”
He urged the protesters in Jantar Mantar to vacate the protest site peacefully as soon as possible.
He added: “We ask the protesters at Jantar Mantar to vacate the place peacefully as soon as possible.”
Speaking to reporters, DCP Sharma said: “In compliance with the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, and based on the health conditions and medical advice, Mr. Sonam Wangchuk has been shifted from here to a suitable government hospital for much needed medical intervention and is currently under medical supervision.”
The Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered that Wangchuk’s medical condition be clinically monitored on a daily basis during his hunger strike. The court noted that “the life of every citizen is precious and government authorities must make every effort to save it” and ordered that any medical intervention required be provided, based on the opinion of government doctors.
Read also: Delhi HC requests daily medical check-up for Sonam Wangchuk
The directions were passed by a division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia while disposing of a public interest litigation expressing concern over Wangchuk’s deteriorating health.
Wangchuk, an engineer, education reformer and climate activist from Ladakh, was on a hunger strike to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in nationwide examinations, including the controversy over leaked NEET papers. He and his supporters also announced a march to Parliament on July 20 to press for their demands to be met.
