New Delhi, July 18, 2026 — In a swift, highly coordinated, and dramatic early morning operation, the Delhi Police dismantled the high-profile protest site at Jantar Mantar, forcefully removing renowned educator and activist Sonam Wangchuk. The operation, which unfolded shortly after 7:00 AM on Saturday, July 18, 2026, brought a sudden and controversial end to Wangchuk’s grueling 20-day indefinite hunger strike.
Wangchuk had been surviving solely on water and salt in Delhi’s sweltering heat, protesting alongside the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to demand comprehensive education reforms and accountability following the massive NEET medical entrance exam paper leak controversy.
The sudden clampdown came just two days before a planned mass march to Parliament, which was scheduled to coincide with the commencement of the Monsoon Session.
The 7:00 AM Blitz: Sheets and Human Chains
Eyewitnesses and organizers described the operation as a sudden blitzkrieg. Around 7:00 AM, when the protest site was relatively quiet and many volunteers had stepped away to freshen up, a large contingent of Delhi Police personnel descended upon Jantar Mantar.
What caught the protesters off guard was the tactical deployment of personnel. A dedicated group of officers dressed in civilian clothes bypassed the outer perimeters, moving directly toward the main stage where a frail Wangchuk was resting. Simultaneously, a larger group of uniformed police officers moved in to clear the venue, immediately forming a dense human chain around the base of the stage to prevent any remaining supporters or organizers from intervening.
As the plainclothes officers breached the stage, they did not engage in discussions or issue warnings. In a highly strategic move to evade media lenses and public visibility, the officers stretched large white bedsheets completely around Wangchuk. The activist, who had lost nearly 20% of his body weight and over 9 kilograms during his 20-day fast, was physically lifted from his bed while shielded behind the fabric walls.
A brief but intense scuffle broke out as the few present protesters tried to break through the human chain to protect the 59-year-old activist. However, shielded by the white bedsheets, the plainclothes team swiftly carried Wangchuk off the stage, through the police cordon, and directly into a waiting ambulance, which sped away into the morning traffic.
Activists Cry Foul, Allege “Goon” Tactics
The sudden and aggressive nature of the removal sparked instant outrage among the organizers and opposition leaders. Visuals shared widely on social media platforms captured the chaotic moments of the swoop.
Abhijeet Dipke, the founding president of the Cockroach Janta Party, strongly condemned the police action, alleging that excessive physical force and verbal abuse were used against a peaceful, elderly dissenter.
Other coordinators stated that using plainclothes officers and bedsheets was a deliberate ploy to execute the extraction cleanly without generating real-time pushback or clear video documentation that could further fuel public anger.
Police Defense: Compliance with High Court Orders
Faced with severe backlash, the Delhi Police issued an official statement defending their actions, categorically denying the allegations of unwarranted violence. According to the authorities, the operation was a strictly lawful health intervention necessitated by a rapidly deteriorating medical emergency and backed by judicial mandates.
The police noted that the action was taken in direct compliance with recent directives from the Delhi High Court. On Thursday, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia had ordered daily medical examinations for Wangchuk, ruling that “the life of any citizen is precious” and directing the state to execute medical interventions whenever necessary to preserve his life.
Following the evacuation, the police ordered all remaining demonstrators to peacefully vacate the Jantar Mantar premises, bringing an unceremonious halt to the weeks-long sit-in.
Current Status: Hospitalized but Stable
Following the high-octane extraction, Sonam Wangchuk was rushed to the emergency ward of Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. Hospital sources confirmed that the activist was admitted under close medical supervision.
Before his forceful removal, Wangchuk had released a poignant video message highlighting the severity of his physical state, noting that his body had begun consuming muscle mass after depleting fat reserves. Despite his physical frailty, he had remained completely resolute, insisting that the fight for the future of millions of Indian students affected by competitive exam scams must continue.
While the state insists the extraction was a necessary act of care to prevent tragic organ failure, the image of plainclothes officers utilizing bedsheets to pull a frail, peaceful activist away from a public square will likely remain a highly contentious flashpoint in the ongoing dialogue surrounding the right to dissent.