In a dramatic turn of events on July 16, 2026, Indian educationist and activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly removed from his hunger strike position at Delhi’s historic Jantar Mantar observatory and taken to a government hospital.
Wangchuk had been on an indefinite hunger strike for 20 days, following a non‑violent protest against the government's handling of the 2026 NEET‑UG medical entrance examinations, which were postponed after leaked exam papers sparked a nationwide outcry.
The protest, part of the online satire‑driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Kirjo characters, dubbed “cockroaches,” had demanded that Pradhan step down in response to the paper leak and irregularities.
According to police accounts, authorities entered the site at approximately 07:30 local time, surrounded the activist, covered him with bedsheet curtains and escorted him to a hospital under the pretext of health concerns. The Deputy Commissioner of Police cited a Delhi High Court order from Thursday that required the federal government to monitor Wangchuk’s health and provide treatment if needed.
In the hours after the removal, the activist’s companion Abhijeet Dipke—who had been by Wangchuk’s side—reached out to the public, saying he had not been told the exact location of the activist. Dipke also highlighted the increasing pressure from opposition leaders, civil‑society figures, and even former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who visited Wangchuk earlier that week and urged engagement with protesters.
The CJP’s plan to march to Parliament on Monday remains uncertain, as Wangchuk’s medical condition could preclude his participation. Nevertheless, the group’s members—some students from educational organizations—expressed determination to continue their demands.
