WANGCHUK: INDIAN ACTIVIST ON HUNGER STRIKE FOR 20 DAYS FORCIBLY REMOVED BY POLICE

Sat 18 July 2026:

Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly removed after a 21-day hunger strike, prompting organisers to call for nationwide protests and demand PM Narendra Modi’s resignation.

This comes as a planned march from Jantar Mantar in central New Delhi to the Indian Parliament on July 20 gained traction on social media.

On Friday, the official X account of CJP shared a short video of Wangchuk speaking to the crowds gathered in front of the dais on which he has been sitting in protest.

Wangchuk looked noticeably frail and even though he spoke into a mic, his voice sounded feeble.

He urged the crowd to participate in a protest march that has been organised by the CJP on Monday.

“Together, we will march peacefully to the parliament and put forward our petitions at the altar of democracy,” he said.

The activist then joked that if he died before the march, his “ghost would join the march”.

Indian Activist on Hunger Strike Is Forcibly Removed by Police

Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly removed after a 21-day hunger strike, prompting organisers to call for nationwide protests and demand PM Narendra Modi’s resignation.

A video from Jantar Mantar showed… pic.twitter.com/MY9ySMvr8M

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) July 18, 2026

Wangchuk, 59, ⁠has been ⁠fasting since June 28 in solidarity with India’s students and youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). According to CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke, as of Friday, Wangchuk had lost about 8.7 kg (19.1 pounds), was visibly weak and had lost considerable muscle mass.

Last month about 2.2 million aspiring medical students sat for a re-examination under tight security after the previous test was scrapped following a paper leak that triggered widespread outrage.

The protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after a key entrance exam for aspiring doctors was cancelled in early May following a paper leak. They say the minister must take moral responsibility and quit.

Pradhan has dismissed CJP and its supporters as “the B-team of disruptive elements”. And the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not engaged with the protesters yet.

But there have been growing pressure from the opposition and civil society leaders for the government to do so.

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Police say Wangchuk transferred on court orders

“As per orders of Hon’ble High Court and on expert medical advise due to the deteriorating health condition of Sh. Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care,” the New Delhi deputy commissioner of police posted on X.

The post alleged that protesters on site “tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued,” but authorities exercised “maximum restrain and undertook the exercise safely.”

They have now “requested” protesters camping at the historical site of Jantar Mantar to vacate the grounds.

‘Cockroach’ party raises alarm, claims Dipke ‘beaten up’

Leaders of the youth-led political pressure group Cockroach Janta Party alleged that police authorities had “forcefully” taken Wangchuk to an “undisclosed location.”

The CJP posted a video on Instagram showing a number of men in civilian clothing marching onto the stage where Wangchuk was resting.

CJP supporters present on stage attempted to block the men, which led to scuffles, while authorities opened up white sheets to block the view of them detaining Wangchuk.

Dipke, who was not in close proximity with Wangchuk at the time, said he was stopped from going to the site by authorities. “Delhi Police is cracking down at Jantar Mantar. Beating up people and taking away Sonam sir forcefully,” he said in a post X, minutes before the Instagram video went up.

Another post followed: “I have been beaten up and put under detention by Delhi Police.”

According to the CJP, Dipke is now on an indefinite hunger strike.

“If they think that taking Sonam Sir away will end this movement, they are mistaken. We will remain here, and will march to Parliament on July 20,” press agency ANI quote Dipke saying.

“Until now, we were demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, but after this despicable act, we will now demand the resignation of Narendra Modi,” he said, speaking of the Indian Prime Minister.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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