Detention Row: Sonam Wangchuk Video Reveals Tense Standoff with Hospital Security
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has released footage of a confrontation at Safdarjung Hospital, claiming he was illegally detained despite court orders for his transfer. The Ladakh-based reformer accused staff of harassment during the 25th day of his hunger strike.
Bureaucratic Delays or Deliberate Detention?
Leaked footage from July 21 shows Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk in a heated exchange with security personnel at Safdarjung Hospital. The 59-year-old, then entering the 25th day of a hunger strike, claimed authorities were holding him captive for hours after the Delhi High Court sanctioned his move to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. In the video, a visibly agitated Wangchuk challenged officers to either arrest him or grant him the passage entitled to a free citizen.
The confrontation escalated as Wangchuk attempted to exit the facility. Wearing a blue patterned shirt and white trousers, he warned staff that any health complications resulting from the stress of the encounter would lie on their shoulders. His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, also appeared in the clip, alleging that the police personnel on-site exhibited rude behavior toward the protesting activist.
The Staging of a Sit-In Protest
Wangchuk’s legal transfer took place on July 21 following his initial move to the state-run Safdarjung facility on July 18. Police had moved him there from Jantar Mantar, where he was striking in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Despite the court issuing a transfer order reportedly by 2 PM, Wangchuk alleged he was blocked from leaving until nearly 7 PM. To protest the delay, the activist staged a sit-in on the hospital floor.
- Total Strike Duration: The activist was on his 25th day of fasting at the time of the incident.
- Alleged Withholding: Wangchuk claims the digital court order was public knowledge while hospital staff claimed ignorance.
- Physical Protest: The video captures Wangchuk lying on the hospital floor after challenging a staff member, asking, "Are you a doctor or a butcher?"
Hospital Accountability and Official Response
Safdarjung Hospital management addressed the controversy, stating the video was filmed in a restricted no-videography zone by Wangchuk’s associates. The administration maintains they could not release the patient until the physical, written court order reached them. Records indicate Wangchuk was officially handed over to the Medanta medical team at 6:40 PM, immediately following the receipt of the formal documents. From his subsequent hospital bed at Medanta, Wangchuk compared the experience to being in a restrictive regime, suggesting the delay was a calculated move to prevent his departure.
Source: NDTV Trending
