The wife of activist Sonam Wangchuk accuses the government of illegal detention after he was hospitalized against his will during a hunger strike.
Islamabad, Pakistan Jul 19, 2026 ALN: The wife of Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk has accused the government of illegal detention disguised as medical care after her husband was taken to a hospital against his will. Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike since June 28 to protest alleged university exam fraud, was forcibly admitted to the hospital on Saturday, with police citing a court order and concerns over his deteriorating health.
At 59 years old, Wangchuk has been vocal in demanding the resignation of the education minister following a scandal involving leaked test materials that forced over two million students to retake their exams. His wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, expressed her frustration with the situation, stating that she had lost faith in the government hospital, which refused her request to transfer her husband to a private facility.
“With around 30 police personnel stationed on our floor and well over 100 across the hospital, our movement is severely restricted,” Angmo said, emphasizing that the circumstances felt more like detention than medical care. She has sought permission from the high court to move Wangchuk to another facility.
The hospital released a statement late Saturday indicating that Wangchuk had not consented to the recommended medical interventions. “Despite repeated counselling by the treating team and the independent expert regarding the urgent need for treatment, the patient has declined intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution, and all medications,” the statement read.
As India’s parliament session is set to begin on Monday, opposition parties have rallied behind Wangchuk, supporting ongoing protests in New Delhi. Hundreds of students have gathered around his stage in recent weeks, voicing their concerns over the education system.
Political and farmers’ groups are expected to converge at the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi during the parliament session to demonstrate their solidarity. The founder of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Abhijeet Dipke, announced an indefinite hunger strike in response to Wangchuk’s hospitalization.
CJP has called for a protest march towards the parliament from Jantar Mantar on Monday, coinciding with other groups planning similar demonstrations for various causes. “For a Better Tomorrow, For a Better Education System & Most Importantly for Accountability!” CJP stated in a post on X.
On Sunday, several hundred supporters gathered around the stage previously occupied by Wangchuk, many holding posters and photographs of the hospitalized activist while demanding the arrest of the education minister. The situation has escalated, particularly after approximately 2.2 million aspiring medical students were subjected to a re-examination under tight security last month due to the previous test being scrapped following the leak that incited widespread outrage and protests among the youth.
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