Delhi Police carried out a carefully coordinated operation before sunrise on Saturday to shift climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital, with senior officers planning the move after his health reportedly deteriorated, according to top police sources.
The operation, executed in multiple security layers and under strict secrecy, came after a strategy was finalised at a high-level meeting following the assumption of office by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, sources said. Police maintained that Wangchuk was moved on medical advice and in compliance with directions of the Delhi High Court.
Sonam Wangchuk hospitalised LIVE UPDATES
Police chose early morning window for operation
According to police sources, the operation was deliberately scheduled at daybreak when the number of protesters at the site was at its lowest.
Officials also waited for a brief period when Wangchuk’s close associate, Abhijit Dipke, had stepped away from the protest venue, leaving the stage without its main coordinator.
Around 30 to 35 personnel from the New Delhi district’s Special Staff and local police, all in plain clothes, entered the barricaded protest site to begin the operation, sources said.
Three security layers deployed
Police sources said only a handful of senior officers were aware of the complete operational plan. Most officers and personnel deployed at the site were instructed only to report for duty and were not informed in advance about the full strategy.
According to the sources, officers first surrounded Wangchuk’s bed and covered it with large white sheets from all sides before escorting him away from the stage. The measure was intended to prevent crowd mobilisation and avoid commotion.
The operation was carried out in three layers.
Plainclothes personnel first secured the stage and shifted Wangchuk. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel then held back protesters outside the barricaded area to prevent confrontation. Senior Delhi Police officers supervised the operation from a control point near the ambulance and police vehicles.
Traffic police subsequently cleared the route to Safdarjung Hospital to ensure the ambulance could move without interruption, the sources added.
Dipke alleges Wangchuk was removed in his absence
Soon after the operation ended, Abhijit Dipke returned to the protest site and alleged that Wangchuk had been taken away while he was absent.
Dipke also announced that he would continue the protest by undertaking a hunger strike.
Delhi Police, however, said the exercise was conducted peacefully and with restraint.
“As per orders of Hon’ble High Court and on expert medical advise due to the deteriorating health condition of Sh. Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care. While complying with the orders of Hon’ble High Court the protestors tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued, however police took maximum restrain and undertook the exercise safely. We request the protestors at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest,” the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) said.