NEW DELHI: The four-year-old murder case of Ankita Bhandari has gripped Uttarakhand, with a general strike announced for Sunday by social organisations. The opposition Congress is supporting the strike. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced a CBI investigation into the case, on Friday, but at the time of going to press, the strike has not been called off.
Four years ago, the body of a 22-year-old Ankita, who worked at a resort near Rishikesh, was found in a river. Since the resort belonged to a BJP leader, many questions were raised. The police arrested the hotel owner and three others on murder charges. They were later sentenced to life imprisonment by the court.
However, the case came back in focus last month after Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be the wife of BJP leader Suresh Rathore, leaked an alleged recording of Rathore, claiming the involvement of a VIP in the case and fuelling protests. Urmila gave statements to the police and the case was handed over to the CBI. Uttarakhand Congress state president Ganesh Godiyal says that he welcomes the CBI investigation, but it should be completed within a stipulated time and the alleged VIP should be brought to justice.
Secondly, Godiyal claims those who demolished the resort where Ankita worked, without any investigation, and at whose behest it was done, should all be brought to light because all the evidence was destroyed in that demolition. The people of Uttarakhand are now hoping that the CBI will investigate and uncover the networks that have polluted Haridwar and Rishikesh, places deeply connected to the Hindu faith.
