Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Police hospitalise Wangchuk; CJP's Dipke begins indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar

WATCH | Sonam Wangchuk taken to hospital

• July 18, 2026 11:28

  Sonam Wangchuk fully alert and stable: Medical Superintendent, Safdarjung Hospital

  “Sonam Wangchuk is somewhat weak due to prolonged fasting and is experiencing mild dehydration; otherwise, all his vital parameters are stable. He is being continuously examined and monitored, and his treatment is underway. He is fully alert and stable,” said Dr Charu Bamba, Medical Superintendent, Safdarjung Hospital. 

• July 18, 2026 11:21

  Dipke breaks down at Jantar Mantar, following Wangchuk's removal

  Visuals from the Jantar Mantar protest site showed Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke breaking down in tears, shortly after police forcibly removed activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site. 

• July 18, 2026 11:04

  U.S.-based advocacy groups express solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk

  Activists from the U.S.-based advocacy groups gathered to express solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike in New Delhi over alleged irregularities in the examination system, including the NEET.

  Activists from the Hindus for Human Rights and the Azadi Project gathered at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near the Indian Embassy in Washington on Friday evening with placards carrying slogans in support of Mr. Wangchuk.

  The activists also raised slogans against the Indian government and demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

  - PTI

• July 18, 2026 10:40

  Security tightened at Jantar Mantar, Safdarjung Hospital

  Security was stepped up in and around Jantar Mantar, across parts of the New Delhi district and at Safdarjung Hospital, where activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted on Saturday (July 18, 2026) after his health deteriorated during his 20-day hunger strike, officials said.

  There was a brief commotion during the early morning action at the Jantar Mantar protest site, with police claiming that some protesters attempted to obstruct the exercise.

  Heavy deployment of police personnel and paramilitary forces was made at the protest site in the heart of Delhi and nearby areas to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident, they said.

  Barricades were erected and security personnel positioned at key points to regulate the movement of protesters and visitors.

  - PTI

• July 18, 2026 10:28

  Heavy police presence at Safdarjung Hospital

  Delhi police has deployed several personnel at the Safdarjung Hospital where Sonam Wangchuk has been forcefully shifted to. 

  Heavy police presence seen outside Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi on July 18, 2026.

• July 18, 2026 10:24

  Pawar slams Centre over 'irresponsible' handling of Wangchuk's hunger strike

  NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday (July 18, 2026) slammed the Centre for its “irresponsible” handling of activist Sonam Wangchuk’s agitation, claiming the government remained a bystander rather than addressing the genuine demands of students.

  Speaking to reporters in Baramati, Pawar asserted that while the government moved to hospitalise Mr. Wangchuk as the situation became “uncontrollable”, the protest would continue regardless of the action against the activist.

  “The Centre didn’t handle the situation carefully, and it impacted the future of several students. The government remained a bystander as other political parties came to support him (Wangchuk). Leaders from Congress, NCP (SP), including Supriya Sule and many others, paid a visit there (Jantar Mantar) and raised a common demand,” Mr. Pawar said.

  - PTI

• July 18, 2026 10:22

  AAP slams Delhi Police for shifting Wangchuk to hospital, using force on protesters

  The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday (July 18, 2026) strongly criticised the shifting of activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital by Delhi Police, alleging use of force against protesters and appealing to students to continue supporting his agitation.

  Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that Mr. Wangchuk, who had been on an indefinite fast for 21 days, was forcibly shifted to a hospital instead of his demands being addressed.

  Click here to read more on this...

• July 18, 2026 10:20

  Coercion of Sonam Wangchuk is the defeat of the Modi government: Kejriwal

  Condemning the police forcibly shifting activist Sonam Wangchuk to the hospital, former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said that “Instead of picking him [Mr. Wangchuk] up forcefully, the Modi government should have spoken to him.”

  “This arrogance is wrong,” Mr. Kejriwal said on X, adding: “Instead of crushing the Cockroach [Janta Party] movement, improve the country’s education system. Coercion of Sonam Wangchuk is the defeat of the Modi government.”

  - Aroon Deep

• July 18, 2026 10:17

  "Our movement will continue from here, we will proceed with our march scheduled for July 20th": Dipke

  As Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke began an indefinite hunger strike, he urged supporters to gather at the Jantar Mantar protest site. 

  “They have made a grave mistake... I urge everyone to come to Jantar Mantar; our movement will continue from here, and we will proceed with our march scheduled for July 20th,” he said. 

• July 18, 2026 10:04

  Three students at Jantar Mantar to continue hunger strike

  Three students from the CPI(ML) Liberation’s All India Students’ Association (AISA) - Neha, Aameen and Manish - remain at Jantar Mantar and will continue their fast for the 21st day, N. Sai Balaji, former AISA president said on Saturday (July 18, 2026).

  -Aroon Deep

• July 18, 2026 09:55

  Nothing should be administered to Sonam Wangchuk without my consent, says wife Gitanjali Angmo

  After the Delhi Police shifted activist Sonam Wangchuk to the Safdarjung Hospital, his wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, said on Saturday (July 18, 2026) that no medical treatment should be administered to the activist without her consent.

  Ms. Angmo confirmed that Mr. Wangchuk has been admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital.

  

  Nothing should be administered to Sonam Wangchuk without my consent, says wife Gitanjali Angmo

  Gitanjali Angmo insists no treatment for Sonam Wangchuk without her consent after his hospital transfer for health care.

• July 18, 2026 09:50

  Sonam Wangchuk stable, requires continuous monitoring: Safdarjung hospital

  Sonam Wangchuck has been admitted at Safdarjung hospital for required health care. He is weak due to prolonged fasting and dehydration, the Safdarjung hospital said on Saturday (July 18, 2026). 

  Mr. Wangchuk was forcefully shifted to the hospital by the Delhi Police. He was on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG paper leak controversy.

  “Although he is currently stable, he requires continuous observation, monitoring and treatment to restore his body parameters,” the hospital said.

• July 18, 2026 09:44

  CJP founder Dipke to begin indefinite hunger strike

  Cockroach Janta Party Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday (July 18, 2026) announced he would begin an indefinite hunger strike ‘right now’.

  Mr. Dipke addressed students at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and lashed out at the Delhi Police and the BJP government for forcefully shifting Sonam Wangchuk to Safdarjung hospital. 

  He was earlier under detention by the Delhi Police and was stopped from reaching the protest site. 

  -Aroon Deep

• July 18, 2026 09:42

  CPI(M) condemns Delhi Police for removing Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar

  Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary M.A. Baby condemned ‘the detention of Sonam Wangchuk and Abhijeet Dipke by the Delhi Police’.

  “Instead of sacking the Education Minister under whose nose the scandalous leak of papers happened and dismantling the system that continues to ruin the future of lakhs of students, the government is coming down with a heavy hand on peaceful protesters,” he said in a post on X on Saturday (July 18).

• July 18, 2026 09:19

  How did you decide Sonam Wangchuk's health has deteriorated? CJP questions Delhi Police

  The Cockroach Janta Party questioned the Delhi Police DCP on how he decided Sonam Wangchuk’s health has deteriorated. 

  The party in a post on X replied to a tweet by Delhi Police DCP and said Mr. Wangchuk was monitored last evening by ‘your government doctors who advised nothing but monitoring his health’.

  “Did you check his vitals in the morning before whisking him away?” the CJP questioned.

  Mr. Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, was shifted to Safdarjung hospital on Saturday morning by the Delhi Police citing his deteriorating health condition. 

• July 18, 2026 09:14

  Nothing should be administered to Sonam orally without my consent: Wife Gitanjali

  Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali J. Angmo said she was at the Safdarjung hospital in Delhi where the activist has been admitted after being shifted by the Delhi Police. 

  Mr. Wangchuk was on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar for the past 20 days. 

  “Nothing should be administered to him orally or intravenous without take consent from me, his family and his doctors who have been monitoring his health for the past 20 days,” Ms. Gitanjali said in a post on X. 

  ​

  ​

• July 18, 2026 09:09

  We will now demand Narendra Modi's resignation: Abhijeet Dipke

  Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke addressed protesters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where activist Sonam Wangchuk and several students were on a hunger strike to demand Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. 

  “This antic by the RSS goons, of carrying Sonam-ji out... if they think this will end the protest, it won’t. We will stay right here. And we will march to Parliament from right here on July 20,” Mr. Dipke told the students. 

  “Till date, we were seeking Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation for the children who died due to NEET. But after the despicable behaviour shown today, we will now demand Narendra Modi’s resignation,” Mr. Dipke added. 

  -Aroon Deep

• July 18, 2026 09:06

  CJP appeals students to continue protests

  Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das urged protesters who are being turned away at the Jantar Mantar protest site to stay put where they are. 

  “We appeal to them to sit-in right where they are being stopped,” he said on X. “We will protest inside, you continue the protest outside peacefully.”

  -Aroon Deep

• July 18, 2026 09:03

  BJP is coming with a white shroud for the country: Dimple Yadav

  Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav lashed out at the BJP government over Sonam Wangchuk’s removal from Jantar Mantar. 

  In a post on X, Ms. Yadav said, “The BJP is coming with a white shroud for the country. When peaceful voices are suppressed, so are the Constitution and democracy. Suppressing people like Sonam Wangchuk is suppressing the soul of the nation.”

  Ms. Yadav had met Mr. Wangchuk -- who was on a hunger strike in Delhi -- on Thursday (July 16).

  -Aroon Deep

• July 18, 2026 08:58

  Watch | Heavy deployment of Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar

• July 18, 2026 08:48

  Sonam Wangchuk conscious, vitals stable after being shifted to Safdarjung Hospital

  Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was shifted to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital after being removed from the Jantar Mantar protest site on Saturday (July 18, 2026), is conscious and his vital parameters are stable, sources said.

  According to sources, Mr. Wangchuk has been admitted to the emergency ward of the Safdarjung Hospital and is under medical supervision.

  Meanwhile, protesters are being removed from the Jantar Mantar protest site by Delhi Police. 

  A heavy deployment of Delhi Police personnel was seen at the protest site as protesters were asked to vacate the area.

  -ANI

• July 18, 2026 08:41

  Sonam Wangchuk forcefully kidnapped by the Police, says CJP

  The Cockroach Janta Party accused the Delhi Police of forcefully kidnapping activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose indefinite hunger strike entered day 21 on Saturday (July 18, 2026). 

  “Sonam Wangchuk was peacefully protesting in a Gandhian way in Gandhi’s land. But Dharmendra Pradhan the Minister whose actions led to 20+ students dying - he can enjoy the good life!,” the CJP said in a post on X.

  Mr. Wangchuk and three students were on a hunger strike demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged paper leak of NEET-UG exams. 

• July 18, 2026 08:38

  Abhijeet Dipke calls for nationwide protests

  “We need to send a message that the people won’t accept this kind of dictatorship,” Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke said in a video on X calling for nationwide protests after being released from detention. 

  Mr. Dipke said he and others are being prevented from entering Jantar Mantar, where activist Sonam Wangchuk and three students were on a hunger strike.

  -Aroon Deep

• July 18, 2026 08:35

  I have been beaten up: Abhijeet Dipke

  Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged that he was beaten up and is now under detention by the Delhi Police. 

  Mr. Dipke was earlier stopped by the police from returning to the protest site. 

  Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, was shifted to the hospital by the Delhi Police citing his deteriorating health condition.

• July 18, 2026 08:24

  'Let me prove that my brain is still fine,' Sonam Wangchuk said in a video at midnight

  “Let me prove that my brain is still fine,” Sonam Wangchuk had said in a video posted at midnight. 

  Mr. Wangchuk said he has lost nearly 20% of his body during his indefinite hunger strike but remained resolute, asserting that if governments could fall over rising onion prices, seeking accountability for students could also bring political change.

  “I ask you -- do the people of India love their children’s lives and education more, or onions?” he said, before recalling that governments had fallen in the past over public anger triggered by soaring onion prices.

• July 18, 2026 08:17

  All roads to Jantar Mantar have been blocked off, says CJP

  Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said all roads to Jantar Mantar have been blocked off. In a post on X, Mr. Ranka accused the Delhi Police of showing ‘its true colours’. 

  “We appeal to the people to take the streets and protest peacefully. We don’t know where Sonam Wangchuk has been taken,” he said.

• July 18, 2026 08:11

  Supreme Court judgments say state has a duty to preserve life of person on indefinite fast without disrupting right to dissent

  Multiple Supreme Court judgments and orders highlight the state’s paternalistic duty of care to preserve the life of a person on a hunger strike without disrupting his right to dissent.

  A series of orders of a Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant, currently the Chief Justice of India, have similarly stressed the constitutional duty and responsibility of the state to ensure that no harm is caused to the life of a person on an indefinite fast.

  Here’s the news analysis

  

  Supreme Court judgments say state has a duty to preserve life of person on indefinite fast without disrupting right to dissent

  Supreme Court rulings affirm the state's duty to protect lives during hunger strikes while respecting the right to dissent.

• July 18, 2026 08:07

  Chaos at Jantar Mantar protest site as Delhi Police shifts Sonam Wangchuk to hospital

  Heavy police deployment at Jantar Mantar after Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on indefinite hunger strike for the last 20 days, was taken to Safdarjung Hospital.

• July 18, 2026 07:56

  Wangchuk taken to hospital due to deteriorating health condition: Delhi Police

  New Delhi DCP’s office on Saturday (July 18, 2026) said that Sonam Wangchuk has been shifted to the hospital for ‘essential medical care’ as per the orders of the Delhi High Court and on expert medical advise due to his deteriorating health condition. 

  “While complying with the orders of Hon’ble High Court the protestors tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued, however police took maximum restrain and undertook the exercise safely. We request the protestors at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest,” the DCP said in a post on X.

  The DCP added that Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke is under detention.

• July 18, 2026 07:52

  CJP alleges Abhijeet Dipke stopped from returning to protest site

  Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das accused the Delhi Police of climbing the dais at Jantar Mantar and covering activist Sonam Wangchuk from view as his hunger strike entered day 21. 

  Mr. Das also said the party’s founder Abhijeet Dipke has been prevented from leaving Jhandewalan and returning to the protest site.

• July 18, 2026 07:49

  Sonam Wangchuk escorted to hospital as his hunger strike enters day 21

  Visuals from the protest site show activist Sonam Wangchuk being escorted by Delhi Police down from the dais. Police announced Mr. Wangchuk is being taken to the hospital.

• July 18, 2026 07:41

  Abhijeet Dipke stopped from returning to protest site, alleges CJP

  Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das accused the Delhi Police of climbing the dais at Jantar Mantar and covering activist Sonam Wangchuk from view as his hunger strike entered day 21. 

  Mr. Das also said the party’s founder Abhijeet Dipke has been prevented from leaving Jhandewalan and returning to the protest site and students were being lathi-charged.