Delhi police forcibly shifts Sonam Wangchuk to hospital
Wangchuk, protesting students had announced July 20 Parliament march
New Delhi: Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent environmental activist from the Ladakh region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), was forcibly shifted to a hospital by Delhi police early Saturday after completing 20 days of a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a heavy deployment of Delhi police personnel was witnessed at the protest site after Wangchuk was taken to the hospital. Wangchuk and supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party, who have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar, had announced a march towards Parliament on July 20.
The protesters said that police forcibly removed Wangchuk from the protest site and also cracked down on the students. However, Delhi Police, in a statement posted on social media, said Wangchuk was shifted to hospital in compliance with the Delhi High Court’s directions due to his deteriorating health so that he could receive necessary medical treatment.
The students further said that police first reached the residence of Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke in the early hours of Saturday and prevented him from leaving his house. They said police later arrived at Jantar Mantar, took Wangchuk into custody and shifted him to the hospital. The protesters also said that police resorted to baton charge against the students.
Hours before the police action, Wangchuk shared a video on social media, saying he had completed 20 days of his hunger strike and had lost nearly 20 percent of his body weight. He questioned whether children’s education and their future were considered less important than the price of onions in India.
Several opposition leaders visited Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar on Friday to express solidarity with his protest.
The Cockroach Janata Party has been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar against irregularities in examinations across India, including the NEET paper leak controversy. The protesters are demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and comprehensive reforms in the country’s education system.
