Social activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken from the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi early on Saturday and shifted to Safdarjung Hospital after Delhi Police said his health had worsened during his indefinite hunger strike.
According to police, the operation was carried out peacefully in the early morning with a small team of officers to avoid any confrontation. Wangchuk was first given a medical check-up by doctors, who reportedly advised immediate hospitalisation due to his deteriorating health. The police said the decision was taken based on medical advice and in line with directions from the Delhi High Court. After he was moved, his associate Abhijeet Dipke accused the police of removing Wangchuk in his absence and announced that he would begin an indefinite hunger strike.
Meanwhile, Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali J. Angmo questioned the medical tests conducted at the hospital and demanded that the reports be shared with the family. She also said they planned to get independent medical tests done. Wangchuk had been fasting since June 28 as part of a protest demanding a judicial inquiry into alleged examination scams and reforms in the examination system. He was shifted to the hospital just a day before the group’s planned march to Parliament.