Beyond the Spotlight: Three PhD Scholars, 21 Days Without Food, and a Government That Remains Unmoved
Abhishek Prasad | 19 July 2026 | Alt News
By the time Delhi Police removed Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar and admitted him to Safdarjung Hospital on the morning of July 18, the spotlight had already been fixed on his deteriorating health. But a few metres away from the main stage, three lesser-known faces remained where they had been for three weeks — still refusing food, still waiting for the government to respond.
Neha, Manish and Aameen, all PhD scholars associated with the All India Students’ Association (AISA), have now spent 21 days on an indefinite hunger strike demanding accountability over the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. While Wangchuk’s removal briefly drew national attention, the protest site is sustained by dozens of others — some fasting for over two weeks, others joining for shorter periods in solidarity.
When Alt News visited Jantar Mantar on July 17, three posters hanging beside the main stage displayed the names and photographs of the students, alongside daily medical updates recording their blood pressure, blood sugar, ketone levels and weight loss since the hunger strike began.