The protest from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar took a dramatic turn on Saturday after Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke said he was physically assaulted and detained by Delhi Police during the operation to shift climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital. Dipke also announced that he has started an indefinite hunger strike, accusing the police of using force against protesters and students at the demonstration site.
The move came just hours after Delhi Police took Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on hunger strike for 20 days, to Safdarjung Hospital. According to the police, the decision was taken in compliance with directions issued by Delhi High Court and on the advice of medical experts after Wangchuk's health deteriorated.
Dipke wrote on X on social media that he was stopped by the police before he could get to the protest venue and later detained. In one post he said: “I have been beaten up and put under detention by Delhi Police.” In another he announced that he would begin an indefinite hunger strike in protest against the police action.
Dipke also claimed Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly removed from the protest site and students participating in the demonstration were lathi-charged. “The Delhi Police has stopped me where I was staying. People are telling me that Sonam Wangchuk is being picked up from the protest site. Students are being lathicharged!” he said on X.
Dipke said police arrived early in the morning and removed the climate activist from the protest venue.
"At 7 AM when I stepped out to freshen up, police personnel arrived here. They dragged Sonam Sir away while hurling abuse at him. A 60-year-old man, who had been on a hunger strike for 20 days and hadn't eaten a thing, was forcibly dragged away by the Delhi Police," Dipke alleged.
The Delhi Police, however, gave a different version of events. Wangchuk was moved to Safdarjung Hospital “on the advice of the Honourable High Court and expert medical help due to his deteriorating health condition,” the force said.
I am starting an indefinite hunger strike beginning right now.
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 18, 2026
The police argued that the move was necessary to ensure Wangchuk received essential medical treatment. They added that in order to carry out the High Court’s directions, some protesters attempted to obstruct all the action.
"The protestors tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued; however, police took maximum restraint and undertook the exercise safely," the statement said.
Delhi Police said that there were repeated announcements at Jantar Mantar that Wangchuk was shifted only because of medical reasons and in accordance with the High Court's directives. The police also asked the protesters to leave the protest site peacefully after the operation.
Doctors at Safdarjung Hospital confirmed that Wangchuk was conscious after being admitted and that his vital signs were stable. He remains under medical observation.
Earlier this week, the Delhi High Court had asked the government to conduct daily medical examinations of Wangchuk, saying that “the life of any citizen is precious.” Government officials were ordered to keep track of Wangchuk and to act immediately if his health deteriorated and provide medical treatment if needed.
Wangchuk had joined the indefinite hunger strike on June 28 in support of Cockroach Janta Party's protest demanding education reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination following the paper leak controversy.
Now Dipke has launched an indefinite hunger strike and made serious allegations against the Delhi Police, the protest has entered a new phase. The protesters have said the authorities have restricted their peaceful movement but the police insist they acted on medical advice and judicial direction to protect Wangchuk’s health. As the movement intensifies in the capital and political debate unfolds, the two sides will have to compete as well.
