On Friday Uttarakhand Court, sentenced all three accused to life imprisonment in the Ankita Bhandari murder case.
Ankita Bhandari, a 19 year old receptionist was killed in September 2022 after she refused to meet the wrong demands of the accused who asked her to provide what they called special services to VIP guests staying at a resort near Rishikesh.
Ankita Bhandari had joined the resort only a month before her death. She belonged to a simple and financially weak family from Pauri district. Her father worked as a security guard and Ankita Bhandari had big dreams of working in the hospitality industry. She had enrolled in a hotel management course but had to leave it midway due to the family’s financial problems especially during the Covid lockdown. To support her family she took the job at the resort hoping it would help her gain experience and save some money.
Sadly within a few weeks Ankita Bhandari found herself in a dangerous situation. She had shared with her friend that the resort owner and his staff were forcing her to offer special services to certain high profile guests. Just hours before she went missing Ankita Bhandari had messaged her friend and said she was scared and that the people at the resort were pressuring her.
As per the police investigation on the night of September 18 2022 the accused took Ankita Bhandari out of the resort under the pretext of settling some matter. Later they killed her and threw her body into the Chilla canal. For days her family searched for her with no help from the authorities at first. Her body was found six days later on September 24 and the truth slowly came out after the three accused confessed.
The police arrested all three and filed charges of murder molestation hiding evidence and immoral trafficking. The case shook the entire state and led to protests by people demanding justice. A Special Investigation Team was formed to handle the case and a detailed 500 page chargesheet was filed in court. Based on this and the statements of witnesses the court found the accused guilty and sentenced all three to life imprisonment.
One of the biggest reasons the case angered the public was the poor handling of it in the beginning. When Ankita went missing the resort staff informed the local revenue police which is a system that still exists in parts of Uttarakhand. But the officer who received the complaint did not register a missing report. Instead he went on leave and did not inform senior officials. This led to a delay in proper investigation. The case was later handed over to the regular police. The revenue officer was suspended and later arrested for carelessness and suspected support to the accused.
Soon after the arrests the district administration demolished parts of the resort. This sudden action caused more controversy with many people saying that important proof might have been lost in the demolition. Activists and lawyers questioned the decision saying that the place should have been preserved for investigation.
The case also had political effects. After the incident came to light the accused’s family members who were connected to a political party were removed from their posts. People demanded stronger laws for women’s safety and better police systems in the state.
Ankita’s parents have gone through deep pain since the loss of their daughter. They were present in court when the verdict was announced. Her mother broke down in tears and said she wants the accused to be hanged for what they did to her daughter. Her father said they will not stop fighting until the guilty are given the death penalty. He also reminded the media that in 2023 the Chief Minister had promised to build a nursing college in Ankita’s name but nothing has been done yet.
He said that such promises should not be forgotten and should be fulfilled to honour Ankita’s memory and support girls like her who want to study and move forward in life.
The case of Ankita Bhandari has left a deep mark on the hearts of people not just in Uttarakhand but across the country. It showed how unsafe the workplace can be for women and how badly a case can be handled when officials do not act on time. It also raised questions about the revenue police system which many believe should be replaced with trained regular police officers for better law and order in remote areas.
While the court’s decision to give life imprisonment brings some relief to the family the fight for full justice is not yet over. The family and many citizens are still demanding that the guilty be given the death penalty.
As the story of Ankita Bhandari continues to be remembered her life stands as a reminder of the struggles that many young women face while chasing their dreams. Her case has become a symbol of the need for strong laws quick police action and better protection for women at the workplace.
Follow us on Instagram – StoryAaj
Also Read : In Roorkee, Shocking Chain Snatching Incident Outside Temple
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
