White sheets, plain cloths: How Sonam Wangchuk was removed from Janta Mantar
New Delhi : Sonam Wangchuk has been taken to the Safdarjung Hospital, where he has been admitted to the emergency ward.
Sonam Wangchuk forcibly taken to hospital
Delhi Police conducted a pre-planned overnight operation to shift activist Sonam Wangchuk to a government hospital due to his deteriorating health after a 20-day hunger strike.
The operation involved plainclothes police personnel using large white sheets to cover the protest stage, preventing the recording and circulation of videos during Wangchuk's removal.
The decision to hospitalise Wangchuk followed directions from the Delhi High Court and medical advice, with senior police officers planning the operation to avoid confrontation.
Police considered deploying network jammers around Jantar Mantar to prevent rapid video circulation, fearing a large gathering could form if visuals went viral.
Security was intensified around Jantar Mantar and Safdarjung Hospital, where Wangchuk was admitted, to maintain law and order, especially with Parliament's Monsoon Session approaching.
White sheets, plainclothes police personnel and a plan to deploy network jammers marked Delhi Police's operation to shift activist Sonam Wangchuk to a government hospital on Saturday after his health deteriorated during a 20-day hunger strike, police sources said.
The pre-drawn operation was planned overnight following directions from the Delhi high court and medical advice recommending Wangchuk's hospitalisation, they said.
According to the sources, senior officers received instructions from Police Headquarters around 1.30 am to ensure that Wangchuk underwent a medical examination and was admitted to hospital.
Soon afterwards, senior officers of the New Delhi district assembled at Mandir Marg police station to chalk out the operation.
A police source said a security drill was conducted to assess how Wangchuk could be shifted "without confrontation" in less than a minute.
The officers also discussed deploying network jammers around the protest site to prevent the rapid circulation of videos during the operation, the source said.
Around 5 am, senior officers gathered near Jantar Mantar for a final briefing. Deputy Commissioner of Police of New Delhi briefed the deployment before the operation commenced, said the source.
Sonam Wangchuk forcibly taken to hospital
According to the source, plainclothes police personnel carrying large white sheets moved towards the stage where Wangchuk was on a hunger strike.
On receiving a signal from senior officers, they covered the stage with the sheets before shifting the activist to an ambulance waiting nearby.
The sheets were used to prevent members of the Cockroach Janta Party and others from recording and circulating videos of Wangchuk's removal, the source said.
"If visuals of Sonam Wangchuk being shifted to hospital had gone viral immediately, it could have led to a large gathering at Jantar Mantar," the source said.
With Parliament's monsoon session beginning next week, the Delhi Police was keen to ensure that no crowd built up at the protest site, the source added.
There was brief commotion during the operation, with police claiming that some of the protesters attempted to obstruct the implementation of the high court's directions.
Sonam Wangchuk forcibly taken to hospital
In a statement, the Delhi Police said Wangchuk was shifted for essential medical care on the advice of medical experts.
"As per orders of the Hon'ble High Court and on expert medical advice, due to the deteriorating health condition of Sh. Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care," the statement said.
Police also denied allegations by some protesters that force was used during the operation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma told PTI that Wangchuk was shifted in accordance with the High Court's order after his health deteriorated.
"Following the directions of the High Court and according to the health conditions and medical advice, we have taken Sonam Wangchuk to the appropriate government hospital, which was a much-needed medical intervention and under medical supervision," he said.
Sources said Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar reviewed the situation at Police Headquarters on Friday and directed senior officers to ensure that law and order was maintained across entire city.
Security was later intensified in and around Jantar Mantar, across parts of the New Delhi district, and at Safdarjung Hospital, where Wangchuk was admitted.
Heavy deployment of Delhi Police personnel and paramilitary forces, along with barricading at key locations, was put in place to regulate the movement of protesters and visitors and prevent any untoward incident, officials said.
