India ‘cockroach’ activist Sonam Wangchuk ends hunger strike as protests spread

Sonam Wangchuk halted strike amid concerns about ‘possible violence’ in India as protest movement urges demonstrations across country on Friday over police brutality

Indian https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jul/17/indian-protester-hunger-strike-modi-government-sonam-wangchuk">“cockroach” activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike on Friday over an exam paper scandal that has spiralled into a wideranging youth-led protest against Narendra Modi’s government, with protesters continuing to call for the education minister to resign.

Wangchuk said on social media that he ended the hunger strike in Delhi in the presence of two federal ministers at the urging of scores of members ⁠of parliament, and after “a long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country”.

He did not elaborate on the talks but promised to lay out details in a video soon.