Sonam Wangchuk Hospitalized Amid Forced Fast Ending Allegations

Activist Sonam Wangchuk has been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, reportedly brought there by Delhi Police, amidst serious allegations from his wife, Gitanjali Angmo, concerning his medical care. Angmo has described the hospital environment as akin to a “prison” and voiced profound concerns regarding the transparency of his treatment, suggesting an attempt to forcibly terminate his ongoing hunger strike.

Angmo has formally demanded that no medical interventions, including the administration of fluids or medications, proceed without her explicit consent. Furthermore, she insists on the immediate provision of all medical reports to the family. Her concerns intensified following a notable drop in Wangchuk’s potassium levels, which reportedly fell from 4.3 to 2.9. While the family was shown the report detailing this change, they were not provided with a copy, contributing to what Angmo termed a “trust deficit” with the medical facility.

The situation escalated with claims from Wangchuk’s lawyer, Bahuli Sharma, who stated she was denied access to her client. Sharma asserted that the actions taken by authorities contravene a Delhi High Court order, which she clarified did not grant permission to forcibly end Wangchuk’s fast against his will. These developments underscore the contentious nature of Wangchuk’s hospitalization and the protest surrounding it.

Despite the current circumstances and Wangchuk’s hospitalization, organizers have confirmed that a planned march for Monday will proceed as scheduled. This indicates the continued resolve of the protest movement, irrespective of Wangchuk’s immediate participation, maintaining pressure on the broader issues he advocates for.