Ankita Bhandari Archives - Lokmarg

Ankita Murder: Family Seeks Noose For Culprits, CM Assures Action

By LokMarg 27th September 2022

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday spoke to the father of Ankita Bhandari, who was murdered in Rishikesh, and assured him of justice in the case.

“I had spoken to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami over the phone. He has given full assurance that justice will be served in my daughter’s case,” said Ankita’s father.

He further stressed on capital punishment for the culprits and said, “We demanded that the culprits be given capital punishment. CM Dhami has also talked about giving full cooperation from the police and administration in the whole matter,” Virendra Bhandari added.

The family members also agreed with the constitution of SIT in the case.

The Uttarakhand Chief Minister slammed the opposition tactics over the matter and stressed a fast-track approach in the case.

“I have asked that probe be done in fast track court for swift justice to Ankita Bhandari. The accused have been arrested, strictest action taken. STF was also formed. The opposition raising matter only for political reasons, action taken is just as per legal process,” said CM Dhami.

Earlier, the Uttarakhand Police probing the horrific Ankita Bhandari murder case said Tuesday that the SIT had recovered two vehicles allegedly used in the crime from a resort where Ankita worked in Rishikesh.

DIG P Renuka Devi said the SIT will now record the statements of the women employees of the Vantara Resort, owned by the main accused Pulkit Arya, son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya.

“We are analysing all the evidence. A post-mortem report has been received. We will record the statements of women who worked at the resort. Two motorcycles used in the crime have been found. We will apply for police custody of the accused for interrogation, including Ishita, in the resort of the main accused Pulkit Arya,” the DIG told ANI.

The body of Ankita Bhandari, 19, was recovered from the Chilla Canal in Rishikesh on September 24. “It has been found from the CCTV footage that these two vehicles were used by the accused for going to Chilla barrage and coming back,” the DIG said.

The murder case sparked massive outrage and protests were reported from various parts of the state. Angry locals even set on fire the resort where Ankita worked. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami then ordered officials to ensure law and order in the state. (ANI)

Ankita Case: Locals Block Badrinath-Rishikesh Highway

By LokMarg 25th September 2022

Anger over the Ankita Bhandari death case poured onto the streets as the locals on Sunday blocked the Badrinath Rishikesh highway area in front of the base hospital where Ankita’s remains are kept.

The administration team tried clearing the jam caused due to the barricading.
The masses demanded the post-mortem report of the deceased and capital punishment for the culprits.

The local market was shut on Sunday as people showed solidarity ahead of Ankita Bhandari’s funeral. Traders of Srinagar kept their business establishments wholly closed.

The development came ahead of Ankita’s funeral in Garhwal, Srinagar.

Earlier, the family of the deceased refused to perform the last rites as they demanded the handing over of the post-mortem report.

The administration on the other hand tried convincing Ankita’s family.

“We won’t conduct her last rites until her post-mortem report is given. We saw in her provisional report that she was beaten up and thrown in a river. But we’re awaiting the final report,” said Ajay Singh Bhandari, brother of Ankita Bhandari.

The SIT on Sunday told ANI that her Whatsapp chats were also being probed.

Earlier on Saturday, the Vanatara resort in Rishikesh owned by expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya’s son Pulkit Arya, who is an accused in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, was set on fire by angry locals.

Anger over the horrific crime poured onto streets in other parts of Uttarakhand as well as locals jammed the bus station in Pauri. Protestors also gheraoed the District Magistrate’s office in Pauri.

The body of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari, who was reported missing a few days ago was recovered on Saturday from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to be formed to probe the case. (ANI)

Ankita Bhandari Murder: Locals Burn Down Aryas Resort in Rishikesh

By LokMarg 24th September 2022

The Vanatara resort in Rishikesh owned by expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya’s son Pulkit Arya, who is an accused in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, was set on fire by angry locals on Saturday.

Anger over the horrific crime poured onto streets in other parts of Uttarakhand as well as locals jammed the bus station in Pauri. Protestors also gheraoed District Magistrate’s office in Pauri.

In Rishikesh, locals protested against BJP MLA Renu Bisht and vandalized her car. The MLA had to be escorted away by the police to safety.

Locals also set the Vanatara resort in Rishikesh on fire. The resort is owned by BJP leader Vinod Arya’s son Pulkit Arya. Three accused, including Pulkit, have been arrested in the murder case.

The body of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari who was reported missing a few days ago was also recovered on Saturday from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to be formed to probe the case.

“The body of daughter Ankita was recovered this morning. This heartbreaking incident deeply pains my heart,” Dhami tweeted.

“In order to ensure the harshest punishment for the culprits, an SIT has been formed under the leadership of Deputy Inspector General of Police P. Renuka Devi ji and ordered an in-depth investigation of this serious matter,” Dhami wrote.

The development comes after three persons, including Pulkit Arya, were arrested on Friday after they confessed to having pushed Ankita into the canal after an altercation.

Additional Superintendent of Police Shekhar Suyal said today “The deceased’s brother and father were here and they identified the body. The body found at the barrage is of Ankita Bhandari.”

“The search operation was going on from 7 am, we took out the body of a woman, her relatives came here and identified it as the body of Ankita Bhandari. The body has been taken to AIIMS in Rishikesh,” said a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) official.

While talking to ANI, Chief Minister Dhami said, “Strictest action will be taken against all the culprits, regarding this, we have formed SIT under the leadership of DIG P Renuka Devi, which will get to the bottom of the whole matter, investigate it and work to bring the culprits to justice. The perpetrators will not be spared.”

On Friday Uttarakhand authorities had also bulldozed portions at the Vanatara Resort owned by Pulkit, where Ankita Bhandari was working as a receptionist.

CM Dhami said that district magistrates have been ordered to take action against all resorts inside Uttarakhand which have illegal construction. (ANI)

Ankita’s Body Recovered From Chilla Canal In U’khand

By LokMarg 24th September 2022

The body of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari, who had gone missing a few days ago, was recovered in the early hours of Saturday from the Chilla canal in Uttarakhand’s Rishikesh, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) confirmed.

Relatives identified the body of the teenager who was reported missing over six days ago.
Uttrakhand Police on Friday arrested three people including Pulkit Arya the son of Vinod Arya, a former BJP minister in the state, on charges of murder of Ankita, who was employed as a receptionist at a resort in Rishikesh.

Police said that the three arrested accused, including the manager of the Vanatara Resort owned by Pulkit Arya, confessed to having pushed Ankita into a chilla canal after an altercation, and she had drowned.

Meanwhile, the Vanatara Resort was demolished on Friday on the orders of state Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Abhinav Kumar, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister said.

The Uttarakhand Chief Minister has also given instructions to district magistrates to investigate all resorts in the state, he said.

Along with this, the Chief Minister has also ordered to ensure that necessary action is taken against resorts that are operating illegally.

Dhami said that the strictest punishment will be given for such crimes.

“It is unfortunate. Police are working, they have done their work for making the arrests. Strictest punishment would be given for such heinous crimes, whoever be the criminal,” he said.

Locals in Rishikesh gheraoed a police vehicle that was carrying the accused in the murder case earlier on Friday. They also thrashed the accused. (ANI)