Behind Curtains, Escorted By Civilian-Clad Cops: How Sonam Wangchuk Was Shifted From Protest Site To Hospital

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital by the Delhi Police early on Saturday after completing 20 days of a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.

Wangchuk was staging the hunger strike in support of the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP), which has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak.

Also Read: Sonam Wangchuk Removed From Jantar Mantar, Taken To Hospital On Day 21 Of Hunger Strike

How Delhi Police Planned Sonam Wangchuk’s Removal

In a carefully planned operation, Delhi Police shifted climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site on Saturday morning after a strategy was finalised at a high-level meeting following the new Police Commissioner’s assumption of charge, according to top

Delhi Police sources.

Senior IPS officer Anurag Kumar was on Friday appointed as Delhi’s Commissioner of Police, replacing Satish Golcha, who was prematurely removed from the post.

According to sources, senior officers decided that the operation would be carried out at daybreak when the number of protesters was at its lowest.

Police also identified a brief window when Wangchuk’s close aide, Abhijit Dipke, had stepped away from the protest site, leaving the stage without its primary coordinator.

Around 30-35 personnel from the New Delhi district’s Special Staff and local police, dressed in plain clothes, quietly entered the barricaded protest area.

To prevent crowd mobilisation and avoid visuals of the operation, officers surrounded Wangchuk’s bed and covered it with large white sheets from all four sides before escorting him off the stage. The operation was executed in three layers.

Plainclothes officers secured the stage and physically removed Wangchuk, while CRPF and RAF personnel held back protesters outside the barricaded area to prevent any confrontation, as per the sources.

The move triggered protests and sloganeering by CJP activists, who briefly tried to stop the police from taking him away.

Senior Delhi Police officers monitored the operation from a control point near the parked ambulance and police vehicles.

Once Wangchuk was placed inside the ambulance, the traffic police ensured a clear route, allowing the vehicle to move swiftly to the Sub-Divisional Hospital without disruption.

According to Delhi Police officials, Wangchuk was shifted “peacefully” and with “maximum restraint” in view of his deteriorating health. The police maintained that the action was taken on medical grounds and in compliance with the Delhi High Court’s directions.

Wangchuck’s Health

Wangchuk was admitted to the emergency ward at Safdarjung Hospital. As per the sources, he is conscious, and his vital parameters are stable.

Also Read: ‘Sonam Wangchuk Shifted To Hospital For Medical Care’: Delhi Police Urge Protesters To Vacate Jantar Mantar Peacefully

“Mr Sonam Wangchuck has been admitted at Safdarjung hospital for required health care. He 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,” said the hospital.

What Delhi Police Said

The Delhi Police on Saturday, after removing activist Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site and shifting him to the hospital for medical care, appealed to the protesters to peacefully vacate the site “at the earliest”.

In a statement issued after the move, the police said the action was taken in compliance with a Delhi High Court order and in view of Wangchuk’s deteriorating health.

“As per orders of Hon’ble High Court and on expert medical advise due to the deteriorating health condition of Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care…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 Delhi police said in the statement.

Also Read: ‘Protest Will Not End’: CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke Announces Hunger Strike After Sonam Wangchuk Shifted To Hospital

The action was taken by the Delhi Police two days after the hearing in the Delhi High Court on Wangchuk’s deteriorating health.

Two days earlier, the court had directed authorities to conduct daily clinical examinations of the climate activist, observing that “the life of any citizen is precious” and ordering regular medical monitoring along with any necessary medical intervention.

Wife Reacts After Wangchuk Shifted To Hospital

Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, confirmed that he has been shifted to Safdarjung Hospital and said that no medical treatment should be administered to the activist without her consent.

“He is at Safdarjung Hospital. I forbid them from administering anything without my consent. No treatment should start without my consent. I hold everybody accountable if anything happens,” Angmo said to PTI.

Activists of the satirical social media platform Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for the past 29 days, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak.

The protesters have also announced a march to Parliament on July 20, the opening day of the Monsoon Session.