New Delhi: Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for the past 20 days, was “removed by force” from the protest site early Saturday morning and taken to Safdarjung Hospital in central Delhi for treatment.
Police personnel reached the protest site at 7 am, dispersed the protesters and took Wangchuk away amid allegations of a forceful evacuation. Some protesters also clashed with personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), CRPF, and Delhi Police as repeated announcements were made asking them to vacate the site.
In a statement, the Delhi Police said it had acted in accordance with the directions of the Delhi High Court and on the advice of medical experts due to Wangchuk’s deteriorating health.
“While complying with the orders of the Hon’ble High Court, the protesters tried to create obstruction, following which a slight commotion ensued. However, the police exercised maximum restraint and carried out the exercise safely. We request the protesters at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest,” the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) said in a statement.
Delhi Police is cracking down at Jantar Mantar. Beating up people and taking away Sonam sir forcefully
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 18, 2026
Wangchuk had been on a hunger strike for 20 days in support of the Cockroach Janata Party’s demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak and what the party describes as systemic lapses in the examination process.
Personnel from the Rapid Action Force also pulled down banners from the makeshift stage where the protest was being held, asking volunteers and supporters to vacate the premises. Despite repeated announcements, many protesters refused to leave. A human chain was formed around CJP’s Abhijit Dipke, who addressed the gathering and said the protest would continue.
Addressing a cheering crowd, CJP’s Dipke said, “I did not come from America to run away. They cannot end this protest. This protest has been peaceful, and it will continue to remain peaceful. We are guided by the values of Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar, and this movement will continue in accordance with the Constitution. No one can crush our spirit.”
Dipke posted on X early Saturday morning, alleging that the Delhi Police had launched a crackdown at Jantar Mantar: “Delhi Police is cracking down at Jantar Mantar. Beating up people and taking away Sonam sir.”
He also said, “Until now, we were demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, but after this despicable act, we will now demand the resignation of Narendra Modi.”
He later claimed that he had also been assaulted and detained by the police. “I have been beaten up and put under detention by Delhi Police,” he wrote on X.
Late Friday night, he alleged on X that there were multiple incidents where people created disturbances, but the police did not respond for hours. Protesters claimed two people tried to throw something at Wangchuk in a bid to attack him and were later taken away by the police.
“Goons tried to attack Sonam sir at Jantar Mantar. An object was thrown at him but fortunately he was not hurt,” Dipke wrote on X.
“A few days ago, I had warned that people would be sent to Jantar Mantar to disrupt the protest after I was informed by an insider in the police,” Dipke wrote on X. “If anything happens to Sonam sir, the government will be responsible as there’s clearly a plan to dismantle the peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar,” he wrote.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Congress breaks silence on Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike, mum on Cockroach Janta Party