Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 21 days, waves as he is shifted to a hospital from Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 18, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on the 21st day of a hunger strike, was shifted to the hospital by Delhi Police on Saturday (July 18, 2026) citing his deteriorating health condition.
Mr. Wangchuk along with the Cockroach Janta Party has been demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam paper leak controversy.
Visuals showed the police climbing onto the dais at Jantar Mantar to cover Sonam Wangchuk from view. Police also announced on loudspeakers that they are taking Mr. Wangchuk to the hospital.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged in a post on X that he was beaten up by the Delhi Police. “I have been beaten up and put under detention by Delhi Police,” Mr. Dipke said. He was earlier stopped by the police from returning to the protest site.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das accused the Delhi Police of lathi-charging students at Jantar Mantar.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said that all roads to Jantar Mantar have been blocked off. “Delhi Police has shown its true colours. We appeal to the people to take the streets and protest peacefully,” he posted on X, adding that “we don’t know where Sonam Wangchuk has been taken.”
The New Delhi DCP office said that Mr. Wangchuk has been shifted to the hospital as per the orders of the Delhi High Court and on expert medical advice due to his deteriorating health condition. “He has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care,” the DCP’s office said on X.
“While complying with the orders of the Hon’ble High Court, the protestors tried to create obstruction, in which a slight commotion ensued; however, police took maximum restrain and undertook the exercise safely. We request the protestors at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest,” the post further read.
“We need to send a message that the people won’t accept this kind of dictatorship,” Mr. Dipke said in a video on X calling for nationwide protests after being released from detention. Mr. Dipke also said he and others are being prevented from entering Jantar Mantar.
“Let me prove that my brain is still fine,” Mr. Wangchuk had said in a video posted at midnight. “I ask you, what is more important, the lives and education of our children, or onions?” Mr. Wangchuk asked, referring to the 1998 onion price crisis during which the BJP found itself defeated in the Delhi assembly elections.
“Let’s meet on July 20,” he said, referring to the CJP’s planned march to Parliament. The video was shot hours before Mr. Wangchuk was forcibly removed from the protest site on medical grounds.
Published – July 18, 2026 09:00 am IST
