Indian activist on hunger strike forcibly removed by police

Delhi police have had to intervene to forcibly move a prominent activist to a hospital after a 20-day hunger strike in protest against India's education system.

Sonam Wangchuk began fasting last month in solidarity with India's youth Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

He had demanded the resignation of India's education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, over an examination scandal that affected millions of students and was linked with a number of suicides.

A few hundred students had joined Wangchuk around his stage at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in recent weeks.

A video from the protest site showed confusion among Wangchuk supporters as police, carrying white sheets, hurriedly moved him from the stage.

'Deteriorating health condition'

Delhi Police said Wangchuk was taken to hospital after his health worsened during the hunger strike.

Sachin Sharma, a deputy commissioner of police, said Wangchuk's hospitalisation was carried out following medical advice and a court directive.

"Mr. Sonam Wangchuk has been taken from here to an appropriate government hospital, a much-needed medical intervention, under medical supervision,"

Mr Sharma said.

A New Delhi court ordered government doctors on Thursday to monitor the activist’s health daily.

"The life of any citizen is precious,” the court said after a petition filed by activist lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini warned that Mr Wangchuk may not survive for long if he does not break his fast.

Deaths of students unleashes nationwide protests

Following his removal, authorities tightened security around the protest site where Wangchuk has been camped along with hundreds of students and Cockroach Party activists.

They demand the resignation of Mr Pradhan, after allegations that medical exam papers were leaked in advance.

More than two million students were forced to resit the exams, with the controversy linked to several suicide deaths.

Shortly after the Mr Wangchuk's removal, Abhijeet Dipke, a Boston University student and founder of the Cockroach Party, announced he would begin a hunger strike and called for nationwide protests.

Mr Dipke said that police used force while removing Mr Wangchuk and alleged that he was "kidnapped by the police like criminals and goons" after "covering him in sheets".

The party founder reaffirmed the movement’s plan to march to India’s parliament, scheduled for Monday, when its session begins.

Hunger strike to continue

Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, said in a post on X that she was with her husband at the Delhi hospital.

"Nothing should be administered to him orally or intravenously without consent from me, his family, and his doctors who have been monitoring his health for the past 20 days," she said.

Mr Wangchuk's campaign emerged as a rare public challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, drawing widespread support across India and amplifying the activist's demands through millions of views and shares on social media.

On the third day of his fast, Mr Wangchuk said his fast would last six weeks unless he died first.

"But hopefully, we don't have to go that far," he said.

"A sensitive government in a democracy listens to the pains of the people, and I hope they will take action."

Wires/ABC