Indian police forcibly hospitalise activist after 20-day hunger strike

Indian police forcibly removed prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi on Saturday, transferring him to Safdarjung Hospital following a 20-day hunger strike. The operation, executed under a High Court order for medical care, has intensified tensions between authorities and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a movement demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a comprehensive overhaul of the national examination system.

Police stated that the removal was necessitated by expert medical advice regarding Wangchuk’s deteriorating health. A New Delhi police deputy commissioner confirmed that while complying with the court’s directives, protesters attempted to obstruct the operation, resulting in a “slight commotion.” Authorities have since deployed additional security personnel and erected barricades around both the protest site and the hospital, urging demonstrators to peacefully vacate the area.

Wangchuk, a 59-year-old engineer known for pioneering water conservation projects in the Himalayas, had been fasting since June 28 to protest alleged corruption and mismanagement within India’s education sector. His campaign gained significant traction after the cancellation of a major medical entrance exam, which led to the deaths of more than a dozen students by suicide. The movement, which emerged in May after a Supreme Court justice likened unemployed youth to “cockroaches,” has amassed over 21 million Instagram followers and is now demanding compensation for the families of those who died.

Prior to his enforced hospitalisation, Wangchuk posted on X, stating: “Smaller Movements have brought down many governments in India… & Here it is about education.” His wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, confirmed his admission to the hospital but insisted that no medical treatment would be administered without consent. She asserted that Wangchuk remained alert despite his weakened state and that the family would handle next steps without government interference.

The CJP condemned the removal as a “forceful abduction” without consent. Founder Abhijeet Dipke pledged to begin an indefinite hunger strike at the protest site, describing the government’s actions as a “grave mistake.” Further demonstrations are planned to coincide with the start of the Indian parliament’s session on Monday, signalling a continued escalation in the dispute over educational governance and accountability.