Indian activist on hunger strike for 20 days forcibly taken to hospital

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Indian activist on hunger strike for 20 days forcibly taken to hospitalImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Wangchuk was sitting on hunger strike in the scorching summer, consuming nothing but salt and waterByGeeta PandeyBBC Correspondent, DelhiPublished5 minutes agoIndian activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk, on hunger strike for the past 20 days in Delhi, has been forcibly removed from his protest site. The 59-year-old had been protesting in support of an online satirical movement called the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) who are seeking educational reforms. The protesters had planned a march to India's parliament on Monday.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke told the he had gone to a friend's house in the morning to freshen up when policemen turned up and refused to let him leave. Wangchuk was sitting on hunger strike in the scorching summer, consuming nothing but salt and water. He had lost more than 9kg and was in a lot of pain.

The Details

Videos from the protest site on Saturday showed chaos erupting just before 07:30 local time (02:00 GMT) when dozens of police and paramilitary personnel swooped in on the stage where the activist was lying down. Protesters who tried to stop them were pushed away. They covered him with curtains of bedsheets before removing him from the stage.

Minutes later, an ambulance was seen speeding away. Dipke, who had been by Wangchuk's side throughout the protest, said he had not been told where Wangchuk was taken. A top police official told reporters that Wangchuk had been moved "in compliance with order, and based on health conditions and medical advice".

"Sonam Wangchuk has been moved to a government hospital for much-needed medical intervention and is currently under medical supervision," said Sachin Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police. He was referring to a Delhi High Court order from Thursday asking the federal government to monitor Wangchuk's health regularly and provide necessary treatment if needed. Wangchuk had refused to end his indefinite hunger strike despite growing calls for him to do so.

What Experts Say

Despite his frail health, he had been insisting that he would participate in Monday's march to the parliament. "I've grown weak from the outside but I'm strong from within," Wangchuk told the crowd gathered at the protest venue, Jantar Mantar, a 300-year-old observatory, a couple of days back. His statement was met with cheers and applause.

"Together, we will march peacefully to the parliament and put forward our petitions at the altar of democracy," he said. The activist then joked that if he died before the march, his "ghost would join the march". It's not clear if the CJP will still attempt to march to parliament, but it's unlikely that the activist will be able to participate.

Why Indians still turn to the hunger strikeThe CJP began in May as an online satirical movement to protest against paper leaks and other irregularities in India's top exams and has gained a massive following on social media.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.