Police shift activist Sonam Wangchuk to hospital amid protest, court order cited
Delhi Police on Saturday moved climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital, citing a Delhi High Court order and expert medical advice. The action led to scuffles between police and protesters, with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) alleging a crackdown and denial of access to Mr. Wangchuk.
According to the Delhi Police, Mr. Wangchuk was shifted for “essential medical care” after his health deteriorated. “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,” said the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi. The police added that while complying with the court's orders, some protesters tried to create an obstruction, leading to a “slight commotion”, but officers exercised maximum restraint.
Visuals from the site showed police placing a large white curtain around the stage before escorting Mr. Wangchuk down. Police announced over loudspeakers that they were taking him to the hospital. Protesters alleged that officers initially claimed to be doctors before revealing the court order.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said police allowed him to reach the protest site only after Mr. Wangchuk was taken to the hospital. He alleged in a post on X that police were “beating up people and taking away Sonam sir forcefully.” CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said Mr. Dipke was prevented from returning to the site. Another spokesperson, Ashutosh Ranka, claimed all roads to Jantar Mantar were blocked and appealed for peaceful protests.
Mr. Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, confirmed he was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital. She said she was not allowed to carry a phone inside and that neither his personal doctors nor lawyers were permitted to meet him. “Just yesterday evening, doctors from Safdarjung Hospital had checked him, and all his vitals were normal. But now they’re telling us his potassium has dropped and it’s life-threatening,” she said.
The CJP maintained that Mr. Wangchuk's personal physicians and legal team were denied access to the emergency ward. The police have urged protesters to vacate Jantar Mantar peacefully at the earliest.
