Police whisk away Wangchuk to hospital; Dipke starts hunger strike; Oppn slams govt

New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) Citing medical advice and Delhi High Court directions, police whisked away activist Sonam Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday morning on the 21st day of his hunger strike at the Jantar Mantar here, drawing sharp condemnation from opposition parties which accused the government of curbing dissent. Ignoring police's call to leave the protest site, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) escalated its agitation over the NEET paper leak issue with its founder Abhijeet Dipke announcing an indefinite hunger strike, soon after the "crackdown". The outfit, which has been pressing for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's removal, demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation and vowed to press ahead with its planned march to Parliament on July 20. Till late in the night, Wangchuk, 59, and his family refused medical intervention despite repeated counselling, according to the hospital. In a statement at around 9 pm, the hospital said his condition warrants immediate medical intervention to prevent further deterioration and potentially serious complications. It said that Wangchuk has refused all medications "despite repeated counselling by the treating team and an independent AIIMS expert, while his family is yet to provide consent for the recommended medical intervention". Shortly after his hospitalisation, Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, asked the hospital not to administer any treatment without her consent, alleging a lack of transparency in his medical care. Hospital authorities earlier issued a bulletin at 3.30 pm, saying Wangchuk has refused intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and other medications despite signs of dehydration and metabolic abnormalities. The CJP said on X that Wangchuk has "not broken" his hunger strike and he will continue it from the hospital. Dipke claimed that they might also be removed forcibly and asked the people to gather at the protest site, where a night vigil was held to express solidarity with Wangchuk. The BJP maintained that authorities acted with empathy, balancing the court's directions with the imperative of protecting life and questioned the "outrage". Early morning police action ---------------------------- Dramatic scenes unfolded at around 7 am as a large contingent of police personnel, many in plainclothes, descended at the protest site barely 2-3 kilometres from Parliament House, with paramilitary personnel forming a cordon around the stage where a visibly frail Wangchuk was resting. Using white sheets as a screen, the police personnel approached Wangchuk as chaos erupted in the background, with some protesters jostling with security personnel to approach the activist, who was lifted and carried to an ambulance. "It happened so fast that nobody could understand what was going on," said 22-year-old Talha, who had arrived from Patna the previous night after following the protest for days. "People started running towards the stage. Everyone was trying to stop the police and make videos, but all we could see were the white sheets. Before we could get there, they had already taken him away," Talha told PTI. According to eyewitnesses, the number of protesters was relatively less in the morning when police arrived and Dipke was not present as he had gone to freshen up. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma told PTI that Wangchuk was hospitalised in accordance with the Delhi High Court's directions after his health worsened and was receiving the required medical intervention. In a statement, Delhi Police said that Wangchuk was shifted for "essential medical care" following expert medical advice and in compliance with the high court's orders. Some protesters tried to obstruct the exercise, leading to a brief commotion, but police personnel exercised maximum restraint and completed the operation successfully, it said. The Delhi High Court had on Thursday directed authorities to monitor daily the health of Wangchuk and extend medical aid if his condition deteriorates. The police action came within 24 hours of Anurag Kumar taking charge as the Delhi Police commissioner. He replaced Satish Golcha, who had been leading Delhi Police since August 22, 2025. In its statement, police also appealed to the protesters to peacefully vacate the protest site at the earliest. At the Jantar Mantar site, security was stepped up and gradually protesters started to regroup. Dipke broke down as his associates consoled him. While he was addressing a gathering hours later, a woman hurled an ink-like liquid on Dipke and was detained. She was identified by police as men's rights activist Barkha Trehan. CJP alleges police high-handedness. -------------------------------------- "I have been beaten up and put under detention by Delhi Police," Dipke said in a post on X. Dipke said he had gone to a friend's house to freshen up and alleged he was beaten by police and detained for some time. He called for protests across the country against the police action. In a post on X, CJP shared a video of Wangchuk being removed from the protest site in a white sheet. "A frail old man, after 20 days of a hunger strike, was picked up, wrapped in white sheets and taken away by Delhi Police. This is a national shame," the CJP said. AISA members Neha, Aameen and Manish, however, continued their hunger strike at the protest site on day 21. According to AISA, protesters formed a human chain around them and stopped the police from forcefully removing the three hunger strikers. Wangchuk and the three activists from AISA have been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of the CJP-led protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the reported deaths of students linked to the controversy. Opposition leaders slam govt -------------------------------- Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the action against a person on a non-violent hunger strike was wrong and accused the government of relying on "Asatya and Hinsa" (falsehood and violence). Opposition parties united in condemning the action and accused the government of undermining democratic freedoms, curbing dissent and choosing force over dialogue. AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, who had met Wangchuk on Thursday, appealed to citizens to join the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar. Gandhi said paper leaks, the rising cost of education and student suicides were "critical issues for India's future", adding that "no amount of force can deter India's students, and those of us who love and believe in them, from raising these issues". NCP(SP) leader Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, DMK MP Kanimozhi, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee also hit out at the government and said it should engage in dialogue with protesters. "What a shame! The world watches democracy in India being broken by force, shamelessly," Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said in a post on X. CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat alleged that the action was an attempt to "bulldoze democratic and constitutional values" and undermine accountability. Wangchuk refuses treatment: Hospital ----------------------------------------- Wangchuk was brought to the Sadarjung hospital by Delhi Police and admitted at 7:40 am. He was conscious with stable pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. Signs of dehydration were seen, the hospital said in its afternoon health bulletin. "Although intravenous fluids were advised but the patient has refused all intravenous fluids, oral rehydration fluid or any other medication," the statement said. The statement issued at night said that his pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation are currently within normal limits. "However, he is exhibiting clinical signs of dehydration, and in view of his prolonged fasting, his condition warrants immediate medical intervention to prevent further deterioration and potentially serious complications," it said. An AIIMS doctor has also joined the treating team and will remain continuously available for monitoring and clinical management. Despite repeated counselling, "the patient has declined intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and all medications. The patient's family has also not yet provided consent for the recommended medical intervention", the hospital said. "The treating team is making every effort to counsel the patient and his family to provide consent and accept the recommended treatment at the earliest in the interest of safeguarding his health and preventing avoidable complications," it stated. On Friday, doctors said Wangchuk had lost nearly 9.5 kg since the beginning of the hunger strike. PTI BM/SHB/AO/SBR/PLB/ RT