A video has gone viral showing the final moments of activist Sonam Wangchuk inside Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital, where he was shifted from the Jantar Mantar protest site on July 18 amid his hunger strike. The video shows a visibly agitated Wangchuk confronting a police officer and accusing him of “harassment” as he tries to leave the hospital. The video was shot on July 21 – the day the Delhi High Court directed that Wangchuk be shifted to a hospital of his choice.
However, the state-run Safdarjung Hospital, in a statement, clarified that the video was recorded before the authorities received the written order of the High Court. The video shows Wangchuk, dressed in a blue shirt and white trousers, walking through a hospital corridor with his wife, who is seen carrying his belongings.
However, a police officer tries to stop him, ostensibly to prevent him from leaving. “Ask them to arrest me. I am a free citizen,” an infuriated Wangchuk is heard telling the cop.
“You all are harassing me. If I die of stress, it will be your responsibility,” the activist further says. To this, the police officer tells him he was not trying to harass him. However, Wangchuk, unperturbed, continues to walk towards the exit.
“You are keeping me here for no reason for three hours on the 24th day of my hunger strike,” Wangchuk is heard saying.
His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, who has been leading Wangchuk’s fight against paper leaks amid the activist’s hospitalisation, is also heard accusing the police of behaving rudely.
“You are being rude… Do you have orders to behave so arrogantly?” she says. Wangchuk is then seen walking out of the door.
WHAT SAFDARJUNG HOSPITAL SAID ON VIRAL VIDEO?
As the video went viral, Safdarjung Hospital said the video was purportedly recorded by Wangchuk’s aides on July 21 in the “no videography” zone.
“The video was recorded before the hospital administration received the written order of the High Court. At that time, Wangchuk insisted on leaving the hospital based on information available in the media,” the hospital said.
The hospital said the activist was eventually handed over to a team of doctors from Gurugram’s Medanta Hospital immediately after the court’s written order was received.
The Ladakhi activist continues to undergo treatment at Medanta after having lost over 11 kg during his 26-day hunger strike.
Wangchuk started his indefinite fast on June 28 at Jantar Mantar in support of the Cockroach Janta Party’s demands seeking accountability for exam paper leaks and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
He eventually ended his fast on Friday, after the government assured him of reforms in the education system and no action against the student protesters who have taken up the cudgels at Jantar Mantar.
Despite ending his hunger strike, Wangchuk’s wife claimed that the activist was under constant vigil. She also shared an al police personnel at the hospital.
Angmo claimed the cops have been deciding who “may or may not meet him”.
“Police are everywhere. At the main gate. The reception. The lifts. Outside Wangchuk’s ICU. If the court has clarified that he is not under detention, then under what authority is this happening?” she tweeted.
“In an enlightened democracy, is the role of the police to protect citizens and uphold the law, or to control citizens on behalf of those in power?” Angmo further said.
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