Police Take Sonam Wangchuk to Hospital on 21st Day of Hunger Strike

On the 21st day of Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on 18 July 2006, police arrived early in the day and took him to Safdarjung Hospital without consulting his family or those present at the protest site.

A New Delhi DCP said that Mr. Wangchu had been shifted to the hospital for “essential medical care” in compliance with the Delhi High Court’s order and on expert medical advice, citing his deteriorating health condition.

Mr. Wangchu’s wife, Ms. Gitanjali, objected strongly to the move and said that nothing should be administered to him orally or intravenously without the consent of her, the family, and the doctors who had been monitoring his health for the past 20 days.

CJP leader Mr. Abhijeet Deepak also condemned the action, calling it an attempt by RSS activists to remove Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site. He said the protest would continue despite the police action and added that the group would remain at Jantar Mantar and march to Parliament from there on 20 July.