New Delhi, July 18: Delhi Police cleared the Jantar Mantar protest ground on Saturday morning following the medical transfer of activist Sonam Wangchuk to a government hospital. The climate activist and engineer, who had completed nearly three weeks of a hunger strike concerning educational administrative reforms, was admitted to the emergency ward at Safdarjung Hospital. Authorities reported a heavy security presence at the site to ensure a peaceful dispersal of the remaining supporters.
The administrative action followed recent legal observations emphasizing the state’s duty to preserve citizen health during public demonstrations. Legal records show the Delhi High Court had previously ordered daily medical assessments, granting authorities the clearance to provide essential interventions based on expert medical opinions.
In a public statement, the New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police declared that the health of the activist necessitated immediate hospital care.
“As per orders of Hon’ble High Court and on expert medical advise due to the deteriorating health condition of Sh. Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care. While complying with the orders of the Hon’ble High Court, the protestors tried to create obstruction, in which a slight commotion ensued; however, police took maximum restrain and undertook the exercise safely,” the official asserted.
The sudden clearance of the site disrupted preparations for a planned demonstration march toward Parliament scheduled for early next week. Supporters expressed surprise at the timing of the morning operation, noting that security teams arrived unexpectedly to enforce the health monitoring order.
Describing the early morning events, an associate of the activist maintained that the enforcement team moved quickly to execute the court’s directive.
“We kept requesting them to wait, but suddenly they announced that there was a High Court order requiring them to take Sonam Sir away… All the policemen were in plainclothes,” the associate affirmed.
Medical practitioners from the Delhi Medical Association reported that Wangchuk’s weight had shown a steady decline, with physical evaluations on Friday indicating reduced blood sugar levels, prompting the timely clinical intervention by the administration.
