Detained Activist Wangchuk Condemns Delhi Hospital Seclusion as Authoritarian

Forced Medical Isolation and Communication Blackouts

Sonam Wangchuk, the prominent climate campaigner from Ladakh, has issued a sharp critique of his treatment by authorities following his removal from a protest site on July 18. While conducting a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in support of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir (CJP), Wangchuk was forcibly moved by Delhi Police to a local medical facility. He describes the subsequent environment not as a place of care, but as a site of strict state control.

Allegations of Police Overreach

During his stay at the Delhi hospital, Wangchuk claims he was subjected to conditions he likened to a totalitarian regime. Key aspects of his detention included:

• Complete denial of access to his legal team and supporters.
• The confiscation of mobile communication devices to prevent public updates.
• Continuous surveillance by security personnel within the medical wing.

Wangchuk stated that the level of isolation he experienced felt like being in North Korea, emphasizing that his rights as a citizen were suspended during the ordeal. Despite the police intervention, the activist maintains that his campaign for Ladakh's constitutional safeguards and environmental protections remains his primary focus. The authorities have yet to provide a detailed justification for the specific restrictive measures used during his hospitalization.

Source: NDTV — Top Stories