A student activist on Saturday claimed that Delhi Police tried to arrest protesters after activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly removed from Jantar Mantar. Neha Bora, a PhD researcher at JNU, is on an indefinite hunger strike and completed 21 days of fasting on Saturday.
She said she would continue her hunger strike indefinitely despite police measures.
Neha said Wangchuk was taken away by police early in the morning and later tried to enter the protest area and remove other students as they fasted. Follow live updates on the CJP protest here
“Today is the 21st day of our hunger strike,” Neha told HT. “At around 7 a.m., some people in civilian clothes entered the theater area. Five to ten minutes later, a heavy police deployment moved toward the theater area, and Sonam Wangchuk, who was on the 21st day of his hunger strike, was forcibly removed from here in the name of providing him with medical care.”
“Then, RF personnel and uniformed police personnel tried to break through the rope surrounding our ISF tent and enter the area. They also tried to detain us, the hunger strikers. Since there were many volunteers, they could not detain us. But Delhi Police trying to forcefully end a democratic and peaceful protest is shameful,” Neha told HT.
“On the one hand, this government did not care about the students and Sonam Wangchuk, who have been on hunger strike for 21 days. On the other hand, it is trying to forcefully attack the hunger strikers and hospitalize us against our will. I appeal to all of you to come to Jantar Mantar. This movement is not over, and it will not end until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Please ensure that this message reaches everyone,” she added.
Read also | Sonam Wangchuk’s wife breaks her silence and says: There is no treatment without her consent: “We will hold everyone accountable if…”
Why was Wangchuk taken to the hospital
The allegations came after Delhi Police took Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday. The police said that the activist was transferred in compliance with the directions of the Delhi High Court and on the advice of medical experts due to his deteriorating health condition.
“In accordance with the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and on expert medical advice due to the deteriorating health condition of Sheikh Sonam Wangchuk, he was shifted 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. However, the police took utmost restraint and carried out the exercise safely,” the DCP said on X.
They also said that they did not beat any of the demonstrators.
Read also | CJP’s Abhijit Debaki announces indefinite hunger strike after Wangchuk is hospitalised.
Human chain
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said Neha, Amin and Manish are continuing their hunger strike even after Wangchuk was taken to hospital.
The student protesters later formed a human chain around the protest site to prevent police from removing the remaining hunger strikers, including Neha, news agency ANI reported.
The protest has entered its third week. Protesters demand resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over NEET papers leaks.
The All India Students Association (AISA) said on Friday that Neha’s blood sugar level had fallen to a very low level, prompting doctors to recommend that she end her fast and seek immediate hospital treatment. AISA also said that fellow hunger strikers Amin and Manish developed serious health complications after 20 days of fasting, PTI reported.
“Why did you drag him away, hiding?”
Abhijit Debaki, founder of the CJP, announced an indefinite hunger strike after Wangchuk’s arrest.
He later said: “He is not a criminal. Why did you drag him away hiding behind the sheets? He did not want to go to the hospital. He wanted to join the Parliament march. But what those police did – he was not a criminal. The way they took him away hiding under the sheets – if you were so concerned about his health, you should have treated him with respect. In every state, in every district, create a Jantar Mantar! And protest there just as it has been happening here for a month.”
CJP demands resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and $1 crore compensation to the families of students who died by suicide due to examination-related violations. The group also called for a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20, the opening day of the monsoon session.
The protest began on June 20, and Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28, beginning an indefinite hunger strike that lasted until he was taken to hospital on Saturday.
