Wangchuk's hospital: Security beefed up after 2 sneak in, hold short protest
Gurugram, July 23 -- Security has been heightened at Medanta Medicity Hospital in Sector-38, Gurugram - where activist Sonam Wangchuk is admitted - hours after two people, including a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, allegedly entered the premises to carry out a brief protest in support of the student demonstration at Jantar Mantar, said police officials aware of the developments.
While police identified the SP leader as Kishan Dixit, they have yet to identify the other person.
According to officers, the incident occurred around 1.30pm and came to light after videos were shared online. In the videos, the two protesters can be seen sitting in the inner courtyard on the ground floor, a two-minute walk from the entrance where police officials were carrying out checking and frisking of all those entering the building.
Dixit can be seen holding a placard demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while his associate is seen with a placard praying for Wangchuk's health. The two slipped out within 15-20 minutes, police said.
Speaking to HT, Dixit said, "We held a silent protest inside the premises without raising any slogan demanding Pradhan's resignation, condemning the lathi-charge against students, and calling for the revocation of the FIRs filed against them."
Separately, police said TMC MP Sagarika Ghose and, later, Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh, along with at least 24 other parliamentarians from various opposition parties, leaders and workers, were denied permission to meet Wangchuk.
Police said Ghose and MPs Vivek Tankha and John Brittas were allowed to meet Wangchuk and his wife at the hospital following hospital protocols. Ghose later posted on X that she and several other parliamentarians urged Wangchuk to end his fast in the interest of the nation and students.
Wangchuk was shifted to Medanta late on Tuesday after the Delhi High Court permitted his transfer from Safdarjung Hospital to a private facility in a plea filed by his wife, Dr Gitanjali Agmo.
The activist has been on hunger strike since June 28 in support of the students' protest against the NEET paper leak and demanding the resignation of Pradhan. He was removed from Jantar Mantar and shifted to Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police on Saturday.
After the protest came to light, police heightened security at the hospital and increased deployment at all entry and exit points. DCP (East) Sandeep Kumar and at least three ACP-rank officials reviewed the arrangements.
A senior police official said SWAT teams and anti-riot vehicles have been deployed around the hospital premises for round-the-clock security.
"The deployment of the number of police personnel has been increased from what was made on Tuesday after Wangchuk was brought here on Delhi High Court's order from Safdarjung Hospital. Each and every visitor is being checked at the entrance, and compliance of attendants wanting to meet patients admitted there has been made stern for the time being, looking at the scenario," the official said.
According to police officials, Dixit and his associate entered the hospital premises posing as patient attendants. Dixit had unsuccessfully contested the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election from the Varanasi (South) constituency on an SP ticket against BJP's Neelkanth Tiwari.
Meanwhile, in a media statement, the hospital said Wangchuk "is stable and orientated, and his vital signs are within accepted parameters. All treatment being administered to him is in accordance with his informed consent."...
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