Indian activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a 20-day hunger strike, was taken from the protest site by force on Saturday morning and taken to Safdarjung hospital, according to the BBC.
Dozens of police officers and paramilitary personnel entered the stage at the Jantar Mantar protest site at around 7.30 local time, where the 59-year-old activist was lying, and carried him, covered in sheets, to an ambulance. Wangchuku has been taking only salt and water during the strike and has lost more than nine kilograms.
Deputy Police Commissioner Sachin Sharma stated that the activist was moved in accordance with a court order, in line with his health condition and medical advice. The High Court in Delhi on Thursday ordered the government to monitor Wangchuk's health regularly and to provide treatment as needed. The activist's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, stated on X that no therapy should be administered without the consent of the family and the attending doctor.
Wangchuk was striking in support of the satirical internet movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which demands reform of the education system. The movement emerged in May after a key entrance exam for future doctors was cancelled due to a leak, and its supporters are calling for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Following the police action on Saturday, the movement's founder, Abhijeet Dipke, called for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and launched his own indefinite hunger strike.
Dipke announced that the protesters, despite Wangchuk's removal, will proceed on Monday, 20 July, with the planned peaceful march to the Indian parliament. Representatives of several opposition parties have condemned the treatment of the activist, while the government has yet to meet with the protesters.
