JNU scholar Neha Bora alleged Delhi Police attempted to detain student protesters after shifting Sonam Wangchuk to hospital
July 18, 2026: Student activist and JNU PhD scholar Neha Bora, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 21 days, alleged that Delhi Police attempted to detain protesters after shifting Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital. Bora claimed plainclothes personnel entered the protest site early in the morning before a heavy police deployment removed Wangchuk for medical treatment. She said police later tried to enter the protest area and detain other hunger strikers but were prevented by volunteers present at the site.
Bora said she would continue her fast despite the police action and appealed to supporters to join the protest. She alleged that authorities were trying to forcibly end a peaceful democratic movement instead of responding to the protesters’ demands. Student protesters later formed a human chain around the protest site to prevent the remaining hunger strikers from being removed. Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said Neha Bora, Aameen and Manish would continue their hunger strike even after Wangchuk’s hospitalisation.
Delhi Police, however, said Wangchuk was shifted to hospital in compliance with Delhi High Court directions and on the advice of medical experts due to his deteriorating health. Police stated that protesters attempted to obstruct the process, causing a brief commotion, but officers exercised maximum restraint while carrying out the transfer. The protest, which began on June 20, is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities. The CJP has also announced a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20.