Indian education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a 20-day hunger strike in Delhi, was forcibly removed from the protest site on Saturday morning and taken to Safdarjung Hospital, according to the BBC.
Dozens of police and paramilitary personnel stormed the stage at the Jantar Mantar protest site around 7.30 local time, where the 59-year-old activist had been lying, and carried him away under sheets to an ambulance. Wangchuk had consumed only salt and water during his strike and has lost more than nine kilograms.
Deputy Police Commissioner Sachin Sharma stated that the activist was moved in accordance with a court order, his health condition, and medical recommendations. The Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered the government to monitor Wangchuk’s health regularly and provide treatment as needed. Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, posted on X that no therapy should be administered without the consent of the family and his attending doctors.
Wangchuk was striking in support of the satirical internet movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which demands education system reform. The movement emerged in May after a key entrance exam for future doctors was cancelled due to a leak of questions, with its supporters calling for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Following Saturday’s police action, movement founder Abhijeet Dipke called for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and began his own indefinite hunger strike.
Dipke announced that protesters would proceed with the planned peaceful march to the Indian parliament on Monday 20 July, despite Wangchuk’s removal. MPs from several opposition parties condemned the treatment of the activist, while the government has not yet met with the protesters.
