Educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike for 20 days demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, was taken to a hospital by a Delhi Police team on Saturday.
The police intervention came a day after doctors warned that his prolonged fast had reached a critical stage.
Meanwhile, a video shared by news agency ANI showed police removing protesters from the Jantar Mantar protest site. Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke alleged that he was assaulted and detained during the operation. He claimed that the police launched a crackdown at the protest venue and forcibly removed Wangchuk.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das also alleged that police used lathis against student protesters while taking Wangchuk away from the site.
In a statement, Delhi Police said Wangchuk was shifted to a hospital on the advice of a team of expert doctors and in compliance with the Delhi High Court's directions.
"As per orders of Hon'ble High Court and on expert medical advise due to the deteriorating health condition of Sh. Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care. 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," the statement said.
The police also appealed to the protesters to end their agitation and peacefully vacate the place at the earliest.
Wangchuk began his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on June 28 as part of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) agitation seeking Pradhan's resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
The protesters have announced a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20, coinciding with the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
According to a health bulletin issued by the medical team on Friday, Wangchuk's weight has dropped to 56.55 kg. His blood pressure was recorded at 108/68 mmHg, blood sugar at 80 mg/dL, pulse rate at 72 beats per minute, and oxygen saturation at 96 per cent. Doctors noted signs of mild dehydration but said he remained mentally alert.
Despite the deterioration in his health, Wangchuk refused to end his fast, saying that doing so without any response from the government would send the wrong message. He reiterated that the movement's immediate focus should be on ensuring the success of the July 20 Parliament march.
In a video message released on the 20th day of his fast, Wangchuk appealed to people to participate in the march in large numbers, describing public support as the movement's greatest strength.
"Yes, I am still alive. Twenty per cent of my body is gone. After fats, muscles are gone. After that, organs will go. Finally, the brain. The time has not come yet," Wangchuk said.
On Friday, Congress leader Pawan Khera, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, and several other opposition leaders visited the protest site and urged the Centre to open a dialogue in view of the deteriorating health of Wangchuk and the fasting students.
A day earlier, Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav and Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal met the protesters at Jantar Mantar and expressed solidarity with their demands.
Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav are among the political leaders who have also expressed concern over Wangchuk's health and extended support for the proposed Parliament march.
