What happened to Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday? From Jantar Mantar to hospitalization, this is how the day unfolded | Today’s news

Jantar Mantar showdown: What started as just another morning at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar protest site turned into one of the most dramatic moments of Sonam Wangchuk’s 21-day hunger strike, with police taking the climate activist to Safdarjung Hospital amid allegations of forcible removal, counterclaims by authorities.

Did the police take Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital?

According to the Delhi Police, Wangchuk was taken to Safdarjung Hospital for medical advice due to his deteriorating health.

Police said the move was taken in compliance with the directions issued by the Delhi High Court, according to which doctors would conduct regular medical check-ups of the activist.

Quick answers to key questions

•5 QUESTIONS

Sonam Wangchuk was taken to Safdarjung Hospital on medical advice due to signs of dehydration and deteriorating health after a prolonged hunger strike.

Gitanjali Angmo, Wangchuk’s wife, raised concerns about the treatment process at the hospital, questioning the lack of transparency and asking that no treatment be administered without her consent.

Yes, despite being hospitalized, Sonam Wangchuk continues her hunger strike and refuses to take IV fluids or medication.

Heavy security was in place at Safdarjung Hospital, with police personnel deployed around the premises due to the sensitive nature of Wangchuk’s case.

The Delhi Police denied allegations of use of force during Wangchuk’s transfer, saying the transfer was done solely on medical grounds as per Supreme Court guidelines.

“As per the order of the Hon’ble High Court and on the basis of expert medical advice, due to the deteriorating health condition of Sh. Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for basic medical care,” PTI quoted a Delhi Police statement as saying.

However, protesters at Jantar Mantar claimed that the removal was done within five to 10 minutes, PTI reported. Eyewitnesses claimed that between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM, several “Delhi Police” personnel, including policemen in plainclothes, entered the protest site where Sonam Wangchuk had been fasting since 28 June.

Read also | ‘Wrong’: Rahul Gandhi slams government in first statement on Jantar Mantar protest

The protesters claimed that paramilitary personnel formed an outer security cordon while another group of officers surrounded Wangchuk’s mattress. They claimed that large white sheets were raised to block the crowd’s view before Wangchuk was lifted and taken to a waiting ambulance.

Several protesters said they first reached for their cellphones to record the incident, only to find their view completely obscured by sheets.

Police claimed the transfer was for medical reasons only. In a statement, authorities said Sonam Wangchuk showed signs of dehydration due to prolonged starvation and was admitted for further medical evaluation.

Did Delhi Police lathi charge the protesters?

There are conflicting claims. Abhijeet Dipke and other protesters alleged that force was used while Sonam Wangchuk was removed from Jantar Mantar. However, the Delhi Police categorically denied that they had carried out any lathi charge or detained the protesters.

DCP Sachin Sharma in New Delhi said there was “absolutely no lathi charge” as per the Times Of India report.

Sonam Wangchuk Health Update

Safdarjung Hospital later reported that Sonam Wangchuk was conscious on admission, with stable pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation, although signs of dehydration were noted. According to the hospital and Gitanjali, Wangchuk is continuing his fast and has refused to take the intravenous fluid, coconut water.

The hospital also said blood tests showed compensated acidosis and low serum potassium. Doctors recommended intravenous fluids, but the hospital said Wangchuk refused intravenous treatment, oral rehydration fluids and medication, adding that he is being constantly monitored and consulted for his health.

What did Sonam Wangchuk’s wife say about the activist’s health?

New Delhi, July 18 (ANI): CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke with a portrait of environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk after his hospitalization and announcing a hunger strike, seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday. (NOT a photo)
(Heman Rawat)

Sonam Wangchuk’s hospitalization quickly became the center of a new controversy after Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, questioned the treatment process. In letters to the chief medical officer, she requested that no oral or intravenous treatment be administered without the consent of the family and doctors who monitored Wangchuk during the fast.

She also requested his release so he could be transferred to a medical facility of the family’s choice.

Read also | ‘We are suspicious’: Woman Sonam Wangchuk announces potassium test result

Angmo further alleged that Safdarjung Hospital refused to share copies of Wangchuk’s medical reports despite repeated requests. She claimed Wangchuk was “absolutely fine” and later disputed the hospital’s potassium findings, saying the reported value differed from earlier test results.

Alleging “lack of transparency”, she said the family had lost faith in the hospital and wanted him released immediately, according to PTI.

“Safdarjung hospital report says @Wangchuk66’s potassium level is 2.9, while just yesterday it was 4.3. They won’t let me get a second opinion by taking him to another lab, nor give me his blood sample in my presence to get tested. I waited for 3 hours but they didn’t immediately ask us to be discharged and so far they haven’t informed us that we can go to the hospital, which suits us.We have been waiting for their reply for the last 2 hours,” she said.

Wangchuk’s doctor during the Jantar Mantar hunger strike questions Safdarjung Hospital’s report

These concerns were echoed by Dr Nitin Dighe, one of the doctors monitoring Wangchuk during the hunger strike. He disputed the hospital’s report indicating potassium deficiency and said the blood sample he took on Friday afternoon showed normal potassium levels, ANI reported.

He also claimed the hospital did not share Wangchuk’s medical records with him and said he would conduct another blood test and release the results.

Is Sonam Wangchuk still on hunger strike?

Gitanjali Angmo reported that Sonam Wangchuk has refused to take electrolyte powder and is continuing her hunger strike.

Read also | Hrithik Roshan opens up about ‘student trauma’ and lends support to Sonam Wangchuk

“Sonam Wangchuk fasted for 20 days and it’s still going on. Doctors talked about giving him electrolyte powder but he refused. His fast is still going on,” she said, according to ANI.

What are the security measures at Safdarjung Hospital?

Security has been significantly tightened at Safdarjung Hospital, where Wangchuk is admitted. According to media reports, police officers were deployed on the hospital premises.

What message did Wangchuk send to the youth from the hospital?

Sonam Wangchuk sent a message to the youth of Safdarjung Hospital urging them to keep moving and stand firm for the planned peaceful march to Parliament. “Don’t worry, go ahead with the plan to march peacefully to Parliament on July 20,” he said, according to Geetanjali.

Who is the woman who threw ink on Abhijeet Dipke?

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chief Abhijeet Dipke with a blue ink-like liquid after an unidentified person threw it at him during his indefinite hunger strike after authorities captured Sonam Wangchuk, an Indian education reformer who was on hunger strike demanding the resignation of India’s education minister Man Dharmendra and Pradhan, in hospital on Jan18 July 2026. REUTERS/Bhawika Chhabra(REUTERS)

A woman threw ink on Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, briefly creating chaos at the protest site.

Authorities have not yet officially identified the woman or released her motive. Several claims circulating on social media remain unverified and no official confirmation has been issued regarding her identity

Rahul Gandhi on hunger strike by Sonam Wangchuk

Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi described the police action against Wangchuk as “wrong” and said “no force” could stop students and their supporters from raising awareness about alleged paper leaks, rising education costs and student suicides.

Is Abhijeet Dipke on hunger strike?

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has announced that he will continue his indefinite hunger strike following Wangchuk’s hospitalization. “Right now I’m starting an indefinite hunger strike,” Dipke mentioned in a post on X after Wangchuk was taken to the hospital. He also sought the resignation of Prime Minister Modi.

Who is going on hunger strike now?

Hyderabad: Left party activists hold placards and wipe candlelight in solidarity with educationist and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite hunger strike for 21 days in protest demanding Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, near the Ambedkar statue, Saturday July 218, Telang026, Wangchana, Telang0218, Wangchana, Telang was forcibly removed during his on hunger strike from Jantar Mantar earlier that day by the Delhi Police and taken to Safdarjung Hospital. (PTI Photo) (PTI07_18_2026_000388B)(PTI)

While Sonam Wangchuk remained hospitalized, the three student activists who joined the agitation continued their indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. The three protesters – Neha Bora, Manish and Aameen – are members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the student wing of the Liberation Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist).

Will there be a parliamentary march on July 20?

Dipke said the planned ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on July 20 would go ahead. He claimed that the Delhi Police was preparing to crack down on the protest. He claimed that the police were planning an action during the night or early morning to quell the movement and appealed to supporters to join a night vigil at Jantar Mantar to march together to Parliament on 20 July. Angmo also confirmed that she will lead the march on Monday.