Police Remove Hunger-Striking Activist Sonam Wangchuk From Delhi Site

Indian police and paramilitary personnel removed activist Sonam Wangchuk from his protest site at Jantar Mantar in Delhi just before 07:30 local time on Saturday. Dozens of officers covered the 59-year-old with bedsheet curtains before carrying him from the stage. An ambulance sped away from the site minutes later.

Wangchuk had been consuming only salt and water for 20 days and lost more than 9 kilograms. He had refused repeated calls to end his indefinite strike in support of the Cockroach Janta Party, an online movement seeking educational reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

A top police official said the removal followed a Delhi High Court order issued Thursday directing monitoring of Wangchuk's health.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma said Wangchuk had been moved to a government hospital for medical intervention and remained under supervision. The court had directed the federal government to monitor his health regularly and provide treatment if needed. Wangchuk had told supporters days earlier that he remained determined to join a planned Monday march to parliament.

The Cockroach Janta Party began in May as an online satirical movement protesting paper leaks and irregularities in India's top exams. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said police prevented him from leaving a friend's house that morning and that he had not been told where Wangchuk was taken.

On Thursday, former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal visited Wangchuk and appealed to the government to engage with the protesters.

The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not engaged with the protesters yet.