New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Saturday removed activist Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar, where he had been observing an indefinite hunger strike since June 28, and shifted him to Safdarjung Hospital. As per hospital sources, he has been admitted to the emergency. It is learnt that he is conscious, and his vitals are stable.
In a statement, the police clarified that the action was taken as per the High Court order in view of Wangchuk's health condition.
"As per orders of Hon'ble High Court and on expert medical advise due to the deteriorating health condition of Sh. Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care. While complying with the orders of Hon'ble High Court, the protestors tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued, however police took maximum restrain and undertook the exercise safely," the police said in a statement.
The police also appealed to the protesters to end their agitation, saying, "We request the protesters at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest."
"Mr Sonam Wangchuck is weak due to prolonged fasting and dehydration. Although he is currently stable, he requires continuous observation, monitoring and treatment to restore his body parameters," the hospital said in a statement.
According to the statement, Wangchuk was admitted to the hospital at 7.40 am on Saturday.
The 59-year-old activist from Ladakh had been observing the hunger strike alongside three students, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
His health had shown a steady decline over the past three weeks. Doctors said he had lost nearly 9.5 kg since the beginning of the hunger strike, while his blood pressure and blood sugar levels had remained under close monitoring.
The protest site witnessed chaotic scenes as a heavy police contingent was deployed to clear the area on Saturday morning. The action came on the 20th day of Wangchuk's indefinite fast. A CJP activist told the media that the police personnel in civil dress reached the site claiming to be doctors and removed him to the hospital.
Soon after the police action, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke alleged that the protesters were subjected to a police crackdown.
"I have been beaten up and put under detention by Delhi Police," Dipke said in a post on X.
In another post, he alleged that the police were beating protesters and forcibly taking Wangchuk away.
On Friday night, Wangchuk had said he was still determined to continue the fast despite his worsening condition, claiming he had "lost 20 per cent of my body" during the 20-day hunger strike. "Governments have fallen over the price of onions.
"I have lost 20 per cent of my body. It is time for this government to listen to the voice of the youth," he had said in a video message, while reiterating his support for the students' movement.
The Delhi High Court has been monitoring the medical condition of Wangchuk and has directed that his health be regularly assessed and that appropriate medical intervention be provided if required.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday strongly criticised the shifting of activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital by Delhi Police, alleging use of force against protesters and appealing to students to continue supporting his agitation.
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that no representative of the Union Government had spoken to the activist during his fast.
Singh further added that the action was taken ahead of the protest's proposed march to Parliament on July 20 and appealed to the youth to continue supporting Wangchuk's agitation.
AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that police personnel in civil clothes entered the protest site and carried white bedsheets to block camera views during the operation, claiming that this was done to prevent any alleged manhandling of Wangchuk and other protesters from being captured on video.
AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha, in a post on X, alleged that governments with authoritarian tendencies fear mass movements and said attempts to suppress public protests ultimately prove counterproductive.
He said such movements cannot be brought to an end through force or intimidation.
CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby on Saturday condemned the police action against activist Sonam Wangchuk and Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke, accusing the Centre of suppressing peaceful protests instead of acting against those responsible for the alleged NEET paper leak.
In a post on microblogging site X, Baby slammed the government for not acting against the alleged paper leaks.
"Strongly condemn the detention of Sonam Wangchuk and Abhijeet Dipke by Delhi Police. Instead of sacking the Education Minister under whose nose the scandalous leak of papers happened and dismantling the system that continues to ruin the future of lakhs of students, the government is coming down with a heavy hand on peaceful protesters," Baby said in the post.
"This displays the authoritarian attitude of the Modi government. Silencing dissent cannot be a substitute for accountability," he said.