Wife says India illegally detaining hunger strike activist
Sonam Wangchuk's wife says his hospitalization is illegal detention, not medical care, as India's government cites a court order and his health
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Abhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) reacts as he holds a picture of Sonam Wangchuk, an Indian education reformer who had been on a hunger strike, after Wangchuk was taken to a hospital by authorities during a sit-in protest called by the CJP to demand the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as Dipke sits on an indefinite hunger strike, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India, July 18, 2026.
Courtesy: Reuters
The wife of Indian hunger strike activist Sonam Wangchuk accused the government on Sunday of disguising illegal detention as medical care.
Police removed Wangchuk, 59, from his protest site on Saturday, citing a court order and his "deteriorating health condition." He had refused food since June 28 over alleged university exam fraud.
Why does Wangchuk's wife say he is being illegally detained?
Gitanjali J Angmo said around 30 police personnel are stationed on their hospital floor, with over 100 more across the building. She said this heavy police presence, not medical necessity, is restricting her husband's movement. "It is not medical care. It is illegal detention," she said, and asked the High Court to allow his transfer to a private facility.
Angmo added that she has lost faith in the government hospital after it refused her request to move Wangchuk. The hospital said late Saturday that Wangchuk has not consented to recommended treatment. It said he has declined intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and all medications despite repeated counselling from the treating team and an independent expert.
What is Sonam Wangchuk protesting?
Wangchuk has demanded the resignation of India's education minister following a leaked exam that forced over 2 million students to retake their tests. Some 2.2 million aspiring medical students sat for the re-examination under tight security last month. The leak triggered widespread outrage and fuelled youth protests nationwide.
How are protests unfolding ahead of India's parliament session?
India's parliament session opens Monday, and opposition parties have backed Wangchuk's cause. A few hundred students had joined his protest in recent weeks at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Several political and farmers' groups are expected to arrive at the site as parliament convenes.
Separately, Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party online movement, announced an indefinite hunger strike on Saturday after Wangchuk's hospitalization.
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