Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Wangchuk taken to hospital; Abhijeet Dipke under detention, says Delhi Police

Heavy police deployment at Jantar Mantar on Saturday (July 18, 2026). Photo Credit: X@PTI_news Educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday (July 17, 2026) said he has lost nearly 20% of his body during his indefinite hunger strike but remained resolute, asserting that if governments could fall over rising onion prices, seeking accountability for students could also bring political change.WATCH | Cockroach Janta Party: How did a social media satire turn into one of India’s biggest protests?Crowds at the Jantar Mantar protest site grew on Friday afternoon as concerns over Mr. Wangchuk’s health mounted. Several high-profile visitors have also urged their own supporters to fill up the protest site and push the attendance beyond the levels witnessed during the inaugural demonstration following CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke’s arrival in India.Also Read | At Jantar Mantar, hope refuses to leaveOver 160 prominent citizens from various walks of life in Assam, including litterateurs, academics, poets, journalists and retired government officials, on Friday appealed to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite fast, saying that “compassion or civility” cannot be expected from a “wooden-hearted and power-driven” dispensation.Follow LIVE updates here WATCH | Sonam Wangchuk taken to hospital July 18, 2026 08:11 Supreme Court judgments say state has a duty to preserve life of person on indefinite fast without disrupting right to dissentMultiple Supreme Court judgments and orders highlight the state’s paternalistic duty of care to preserve the life of a person on a hunger strike without disrupting his right to dissent.A series of orders of a Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant, currently the Chief Justice of India, have similarly stressed the constitutional duty and responsibility of the state to ensure that no harm is caused to the life of a person on an indefinite fast.Here’s the news analysisSupreme Court judgments say state has a duty to preserve life of person on indefinite fast without disrupting right to dissentSupreme Court rulings affirm the state's duty to protect lives during hunger strikes while respecting the right to dissent.July 18, 2026 08:07 Chaos at Jantar Mantar protest site as Delhi Police shifts Sonam Wangchuk to hospitalHeavy police deployment at Jantar Mantar after Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on indefinite hunger strike for the last 20 days, was taken to Safdarjung Hospital.July 18, 2026 07:56 Wangchuk taken to hospital due to deteriorating health condition: Delhi PoliceNew Delhi DCP’s office on Saturday (July 18, 2026) said that Sonam Wangchuk has been shifted to the hospital for ‘essential medical care’ as per the orders of the Delhi High Court and on expert medical advise due to his deteriorating health condition. “While complying with the orders of Hon’ble High Court the protestors tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued, however police took maximum restrain and undertook the exercise safely. We request the protestors at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest,” the DCP said in a post on X.The DCP added that Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke is under detention.July 18, 2026 07:52 CJP alleges Abhijeet Dipke stopped from returning to protest siteCockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das accused the Delhi Police of climbing the dais at Jantar Mantar and covering activist Sonam Wangchuk from view as his hunger strike entered day 21. Mr. Das also said the party’s founder Abhijeet Dipke has been prevented from leaving Jhandewalan and returning to the protest site.July 18, 2026 07:49 Sonam Wangchuk escorted to hospital as his hunger strike enters day 21Visuals from the protest site show activist Sonam Wangchuk being escorted by Delhi Police down from the dais. Police announced Mr. Wangchuk is being taken to the hospital.July 18, 2026 07:41 Abhijeet Dipke stopped from returning to protest site, alleges CJPCockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das accused the Delhi Police of climbing the dais at Jantar Mantar and covering activist Sonam Wangchuk from view as his hunger strike entered day 21. Mr. Das also said the party’s founder Abhijeet Dipke has been prevented from leaving Jhandewalan and returning to the protest site and students were being lathi-charged. Published - July 18, 2026 07:46 am IST