Indian court rejects bid to release hunger-striking activist from hospital

The wife of 59-year-old Sonam Wangchuk says his enforced hospitalisation is ‘illegal detention’.An Indian court has rejected a petition from the wife of activist Sonam Wangchuk to release him from “illegal detention” in a New Delhi hospital, where he was forcibly taken by police after three weeks on hunger strike in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest movement.“Despite repeated requests, the ⁠hospital has refused to discharge him or allow us to shift him to a private hospital of our choice,” Gitanjali Angmo said on X on Sunday, adding that she had “sought an urgent hearing” at the Delhi High Court.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Cockroach Party protest intensifies after Wangchuk forcibly hospitalisedlist 2 of 3Indian police forcibly hospitalise activist after 20-day hunger strikelist 3 of 3India blocks Telegram until Monday due to student exam fraud concernsend of listBut the judges endorsed the government’s decision to hospitalise Wangchuk against his wishes, and declined to order his immediate discharge. Another hearing is scheduled for Friday.Judge Mini Pushkarna said doctors had administered only oral fluids and supplements with Wangchuk’s consent, adding: “It cannot be ⁠said that any force is being used against Mr Sonam Wangchuk ⁠or that his bodily autonomy is being violated in any manner whatsoever.”Police seized the 59-year-old Wangchuk on Saturday at the Jantar Mantar, housing large 18th-century astronomical devices, which has become a protest site in the capital for the mostly youthful supporters of the CJP movement, and took him to the state-run Safdarjung Hospital.“I have lost faith in Safdarjung Government Hospital,” Angmo said. “Despite repeated requests, the hospital has refused to discharge him or allow us to shift him to a private hospital of our choice. With around 30 police personnel stationed on our floor and well over 100 across the hospital, our movement is severely restricted. It is not medical care. It is illegal detention.”