Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike for 21 days at Jantar Mantar, was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital during an early-morning operation carried out by the Delhi Police on Saturday. According to reports, police officers were allegedly briefed in advance and instructed to remove Wangchuk within a short time window when several of his close supporters were away from the protest site. During the operation, four to five police personnel reportedly escorted Wangchuk into an ambulance, while other officers cleared the protest area and detained several demonstrators.

Reports citing police sources claimed that preparations for the operation began in the early hours of the morning, with officers from multiple police stations assembled and briefed on the execution plan. The operation reportedly took place after protest organiser Abhijeet Dipke briefly left the site, allowing police to move in quickly. Dipke alleged that protesters were forcibly dispersed, some supporters were assaulted, and he was detained during the action. Following Wangchuk’s removal, Dipke announced that he would continue the agitation and begin an indefinite hunger strike in support of the movement.

The Delhi Police, however, stated that Wangchuk was shifted strictly on medical grounds and in compliance with directions issued by the Delhi High Court. According to the police, medical experts had advised immediate hospitalisation due to concerns over his health after the prolonged fast. Meanwhile, Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, said that his hunger strike remains ongoing and requested that no medical treatment or nutrition be administered without his consent. The incident has sparked fresh political debate over the handling of protests and the balance between public health concerns and the right to peaceful demonstration.