New Delhi
oi-Prakash KL
Founding President of the Cockroach Janta Party, Abhijeet Dipke has accused the Delhi Police of assaulting him after activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, was shifted to a hospital on Saturday after his health deteriorated on day 21 of his fast.
Dipke, whose Cockroach Janta Party had backed the protest demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in national-level examinations, including the NEET paper leak controversy, said that the people who took Sonam Wangchuk to hospital were “RSS Goons”.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk was hospitalized on day 21 of his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar protesting exam irregularities, after authorities cited Delhi High Court orders and medical advice; Abhijeet Dipke accused Delhi Police of assaulting him during the transfer.
Speaking to ANI, Abhijeet Dipke said, “At 7 AM, when I stepped out to freshen up, police goons arrived here. They dragged Sonam Sir away while hurling abuse at him. A 60-year-old man, who had been on a hunger strike for 20 days and hadn’t eaten a thing was forcibly dragged away by the Delhi Police. We have no idea where they have taken him. When I received the news and was on my way to Jantar Mantar from my friend’s house, the police assaulted me as well…These aren’t police officers; they are RSS goons.”
He then asked, “I had returned to my country from abroad; am I a criminal? They are goons-not police, but RSS goons…”
In a statement, the Delhi Police said, Sonam Wangchuk has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care as per orders of Delhi High Court and on expert medical advice amid his deteriorating health condition.
The statement said, “Police took maximum restraint and undertook the exercise safely. We request the protestors at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest.”
Hours before he was rushed to the hospital, Sonam Wangchuk, in a post on X, said that smaller Movements have brought down many governments in India and “here it is about education” as they protest against the Centre demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in national-level examinations, including the NEET paper leak controversy.
His weight dropped by 350 grams in the last 24 hours as it stood at 56.55 kg. His blood pressure was recorded at 108/68, blood sugar at 70 mg/dL and pulse rate at 72 per minute, ANI reported citing Dr Satish Lamba of the Delhi Medical Association.
Security has been stepped up in and around Jantar Mantar and across parts of the New Delhi district. Heavy deployment of Delhi Police personnel and paramilitary forces has been made at Jantar Mantar and nearby areas to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident, PTI reported citing police department.
Barricades have been erected and security personnel positioned at key points to regulate the movement of protesters and visitors.
The police department has appealed to the protesters to cooperate with the authorities, saying, “We request the protestors at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest.”
