Indian hunger striker taken to hospital as police launch 'chilling crackdown'

Police have forcibly removed hunger striker Sonam Wangchuk from a student protest site in India.

The activist, who has not eaten for 20 days, was taken from Jantar Mantar in Delhi early on Saturday by plain clothes officers using white sheets to shield him from public view.

Mr Wangchuk, 59, a well-known educationalist and scientist, has been on an indefinite fast in support of the student-led Cockroach Janta Party.

The movement was formed in May after a Supreme Court judge compared unemployed young people to cockroaches and parasites.

In a social media statement, Delhi police said that Mr Wangchuk was taken to hospital on "medical advice", adding that there was a "slight commotion" during his removal.

The Cockroach Party said that Mr Wangchuk was kidnapped while peacefully protesting in a Gandhian way.

Its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, alleged that he was "beaten up" by the police on a social media post.

"I am commencing my indefinite hunger strike, starting today." said Mr Dipke. "I appeal to everyone - do not back down. This movement will only grow larger."

A large contingent of security has been placed at Safadarjung Hospital, where Mr Wangchuk was taken.

Its medical superintendent, Charu Bamba, said: "Due to the prolonged fast, he is feeling a little weak, and has mild dehydration. We are continuously monitoring all his vital parameters."

Mr Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, said that "nothing should be administered to him orally or intravenously without take consent from me, his family and his doctors, who have been monitoring his health for the past 20 days".

India's opposition parties and leaders have condemned the incident.

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Congress Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said: "Our constitution guarantees the right to dissent.

"Today's crackdown sends a chilling message - political obedience takes precedence over constitution duty.

"It is a shame that the world's largest democracy is being ruled by the most undemocratic and anti-democratic political party of the world."

Police have been deployed in and around the protest site since Mr Wangchuk's removak, and barricades and checkpoints have been erected to restrict access.

By the time Chief Justice Surya Kant said that his words had been miscontrued and taken out of context, the damage had already been done.

A social media campaign started by US-based Abhijeet Dipke went viral and garnered millions of followers.

The cockroach insult has become a badge of honour for the movement, which says it is the "voice of the lazy and unemployed".

Rattled by its popularity, the government blocked its social media accounts after an intelligence report allegedly warned of potential public unrest that could threaten sovereignty and national security.

The cockroach became a symbol of survival - resilient, impossible to get rid of, and somehow still functioning despite the system's repeated attempts to squash it.

AI‑generated images and videos have flooded the internet, reflecting the frustration of young people over corruption, inequality, unemployment and rising costs. There is also distrust of government and traditional political parties.

Protesters plan to march to India's parliament on Monday.

(c) Sky News 2026: Indian hunger striker taken to hospital as police launch 'chilling crackdown'