Police Move Sonam Wangchuk to Hospital After 21-Day Fast

Prominent Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to a hospital in New Delhi on July 18, ending a 21-day hunger strike he had undertaken as part of a student-led protest demanding reforms to the national examination system. The removal, carried out by Delhi Police in the early morning hours, followed a court order and medical advice citing his deteriorating health, though protest organizers alleged he was forcibly taken against his will.

Wangchuk, a 59-year-old educator and environmentalist renowned for his work on climate adaptation in Ladakh, had joined the protest at Jantar Mantar on June 28. The demonstration, spearheaded by the satirical citizens' movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), was launched in response to widespread allegations of irregularities in competitive exams, including a major paper leak that forced the cancellation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical colleges. The protesters' core demands include the resignation of Federal Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, systemic examination reforms, and financial compensation for families of students who have died by suicide following exam-related distress.