Mumbai Police Detain 50 Protesters Outside Azad Maidan Over Sonam Wangchuk Detention
On Saturday, student organizations and opposition supporters staged a protest outside Azad Maidan in south Mumbai against the detention of activist Sonam Wangchuk and in solidarity with students protesting NEET-UG irregularities. The demonstration led to police intervention, resulting in the temporary detention of approximately 50 protesters and police cases registered against the organizers for assembling without permission.
The protest was organized under the banner of Mumbai Against Suppression of Students (MASS). Participating groups included the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the All India Students’ Federation (AISF), and Aamchi Padhai Aamchi Ladai. Organizers estimated that around 100 people joined the demonstration.
Shortly after the demonstration began, Mumbai Police detained about 50 protesters, citing a lack of official permission. The detained individuals were released later. In addition to the detentions, police registered cases against the organizers for holding the demonstration without authorization.
An SFI member stated that the protest was organized to oppose the illegal detention of Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and to stand in solidarity with him. In a statement, MASS accused the Central government of attempting to suppress democratic protests and student movements.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk had been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. He was demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination. On Saturday, Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital after his health deteriorated, an action protesters alleged was a forced removal to end his agitation.
Police also registered a case against seven people after a separate group of about 25 Cockroach Janta Party supporters gathered outside Azad Maidan without permission. The organizers were booked for unlawful assembly, disobedience to a public servant's order, and wrongful restraint. Additionally, a group of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) workers held a demonstration near Mantralaya, resulting in brief detentions by the Marine Drive police.
