Candlelight marches were held across Uttarakhand on New Year's Eve to remember Ankita Bhandari and demand probes into senior BJP leaders' alleged involvement in her death. The case continues to pressure the Pushkar Singh Dhami government, with a larger protest planned for January 4.
Three years after the murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari, the case continues to stir unrest in Uttarakhand. Her body was recovered from a canal in Rishikesh on September 24, 2022, six days after she went missing. Pulkit Arya, manager of Vanantara resort and son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, allegedly killed her for refusing sexual favours to a VIP. Vinod Arya was expelled from the party in 2022.
Fresh allegations emerged when Urmila Sanawar, wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, claimed the VIP 'Gattu' was senior leader Dushyant Gautam, releasing an audio clip where Rathore purportedly names him and another. Rathore dismissed the clip as AI-generated, and Gautam denied involvement.
The government's inadequate response and the vulnerabilities faced by women in Uttarakhand's informal sector have united diverse groups. A protest at the chief minister's residence on January 4 will include Bhandari's family, Uttarakhand Mahila Manch, and civil society, demanding a CBI probe.
Indresh Maikhuri of CPI(ML) Liberation stated, "People think that justice has been denied. The fact that Ankita was killed for refusing 'special services' for a VIP is openly acknowledged." Advocate Chandrakala highlighted probe setbacks, including the bulldozing of Ankita's resort room ordered by MLA Renu Bisht, destroying potential evidence like her bedsheet and phones.
Ankita's father, Virender Bhandari, said, "We will protest until they accept our demand for a CBI probe." Congress leader Vaibhav Walia accused the government of protecting the accused, noting Ankita has become the voice of every daughter in the state. The case symbolizes the erosion of women's rights in a region known for their public participation.