Delhi Police Remove Sonam Wangchuk on Day 21 as Exam-Leak Protests Target Minister
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 18
Delhi Police Remove Sonam Wangchuk on Day 21 as Exam-Leak Protests Target Minister
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 18
Summary
Day 21 of Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike ended with Delhi police removing him from the CJP sit-in at Jantar Mantar and taking him to hospital against his will.
The protest centers on leaked university entrance exams and demands Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, with demonstrators planning a march to Parliament on Monday.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, began his own hunger strike as supporters rallied, signaling the movement will continue despite Wangchuk’s removal.
The CJP grew rapidly after Chief Justice Surya Kant called unemployed youth “cockroaches” in May, turning the insult into a symbol of anger over joblessness, exam failures and blocked mobility.
The escalation suggests authorities no longer see the satirical youth outfit as a passing online phenomenon but as a broader outlet for discontent with India’s education system and political accountability.
Can an online army of 'cockroaches' with 22 million followers actually force political change in India?
Was forcibly hospitalizing a famed activist a life-saving duty or a way to silence a growing protest?
Are India's exam leaks just a symptom of a much deeper and more explosive youth unemployment crisis?
NEET-UG Paper Leak Sparks 20-Day Hunger Strike: Sonam Wangchuk Hospitalized Amid Ladakh and Student Protests
Overview
On July 18, 2026, after 20 days of hunger strike, Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly hospitalized, marking a turning point in the protest for Ladakh’s statehood and constitutional safeguards. This happened just two days before a planned march to Parliament, intensifying the movement’s urgency. The Delhi High Court began actively monitoring Wangchuk’s health, issuing directives for his care. Meanwhile, the protest site saw increased tension, with supporters unaware of Wangchuk’s location and reporting police obstruction. These developments highlight the protest’s escalating stakes and the authorities’ growing involvement as the movement pushes forward.