A massive wave of protests led by youth and women brought the capital of Uttarakhand to a standstill on Sunday, as demonstrators marched toward the Chief Minister’s residence in Dehradun. The protesters, seeking accountability and a CBI probe into the 2022 murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari, were halted by heavy police barricading just a kilometer from their destination.
The slogan “Mukhyamantri maun hai, VIP kaun hai” (The Chief Minister is silent, who is the VIP?) echoed through the streets, reflecting a state-wide demand for the identification of high-ranking individuals allegedly involved in the case.
Fresh Allegations and Leaked Audio
The resurgence of the movement follows explosive claims by Urmila Sanawar, wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore. Sanawar released an audio clip in which Rathore purportedly identifies a senior leader known as “Gattu”—alleged to be BJP national general secretary Dushyant Gautam—as the “VIP” who sought sexual favors from Bhandari.
- Counter-Claims: Suresh Rathore has since claimed the audio is AI-generated and accused his wife of defaming the party.
- Legal Action: Police have registered cases against both Rathore and Sanawar under the IT Act, while Dushyant Gautam has denied any involvement.
- Protester Demand: Protesters argue that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has worked under political pressure and that only a CBI probe can ensure an independent investigation into the “VIP” angle.
The 2022 Murder: A Longstanding Grievance
Ankita Bhandari, a receptionist at the Vanantara Resort, was killed in September 2022 after allegedly refusing to provide “extra services” to a VIP guest. Her body was recovered from a canal in Rishikesh six days after she went missing.
The primary accused, Pulkit Arya—son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya—was convicted of murder, sexual harassment, and human trafficking. Two accomplices, Ankit Gupta and Saurabh Bhaskar, were also sentenced. However, the identity of the “VIP guest” mentioned in Bhandari’s WhatsApp chats—where she famously wrote, “I am poor, but will I sell myself for Rs 10,000?”—has remained a point of intense public contention.
‘Personal to Every Woman’: Broader Social Unrest
Protesters like Shalini, a 26-year-old teacher, argue that the case has become a symbol of the unsafe conditions for women and the dire state of the local economy.
- Safety Concerns: Protesters cited the NARI report, which recently ranked Dehradun among the 10 most unsafe cities in India.
- Economic Distress: Many pointed to the collapse of the agriculture-dependent economy due to extreme weather and wildlife conflicts.
- Migration Crisis: Protesters lamented that youth are forced to leave the state for precarious jobs with salaries as low as ₹10,000, the same amount Bhandari was allegedly offered for “extra services.”
January 11: State-Wide Strike Deadline
The movement has gained support from various opposition parties, including the Congress and the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal. Kanishk Badiyari of the Garhkumaon alliance described the Ankita incident as a “breaking point” for a state grappling with forest loss (45,000 hectares in 25 years), paper leaks, and police excesses.
Protesters have issued an ultimatum to the government: recommend a CBI probe immediately or face a state-wide strike and civil disobedience agitation starting January 11, 2026.
“We will continue this fight until all the guilty are punished and Ankita gets justice,” Badiyari stated, highlighting the “fetishisation of pahari women” as a systemic issue that must be addressed alongside the legal case.
Source: The Indian Express
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