Ankita Bhandari Murder Case: Parents Warn of Mass Protests After Police Crackdown
Ankita Bhandari's parents warn of mass protests in Uttarakhand after police detentions and the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Governor.
The battle for justice in the Ankita Bhandari murder case has taken a dramatic turn in the national capital. On Thursday morning, Delhi Police detained the parents of the deceased woman and several opposition leaders during a peaceful sit-in protest at India Gate. The incident has sparked a political firestorm, with the victim's family now issuing a 24-hour ultimatum that could trigger widespread unrest in Uttarakhand.
Police Action and Political Backlash
The early morning operation saw the parents of Ankita Bhandari taken into custody while they were protesting quietly at India Gate. The detentions did not go unnoticed by political leaders; Congress figures including Pawan Khera, Jothimani, and Imran Pratapgarhi staged their own protest inside the police station to demand the release of the grieving parents.
While the parents were eventually released from the Tilak Marg Police Station, the incident has drawn sharp criticism from the top leadership of the Congress party. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took to X to slam the Union Government, describing the detention as the "pinnacle of the Modi government's cowardice and insensitivity." Kharge argued that while parents pleading for justice were jailed, a BJP "VIP" was being rewarded with a high-ranking constitutional post.
The Governor Appointment Controversy
At the heart of the current unrest is the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim. Ankita's father has expressed deep alarm over this move, demanding that the appointment be put on hold until a thorough investigation into unresolved allegations surrounding the murder case is completed.
The family is demanding transparency and has called for the immediate public disclosure of specific evidence, including:
- Location details for Ajay Kumar and Dushyant Kumar for September 18–19, 2022.
- Call records for both individuals for the same period.
A Warning to the Authorities
The grief-stricken parents have now shifted from pleas to warnings. Ankita's father stated that if their concerns are not addressed within 24 hours, the people of Uttarakhand will take to the streets in protest.
Adding an emotional layer to the struggle, Ankita's mother appealed to the public for continued support, stating, "I just want justice for my daughter... This fight is not just for my daughter; it is a fight for everyone's daughters."
Opposition Leaders Stand with the Family
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, condemned the 4 AM police action, asserting that the parents were sitting peacefully without any commotion. He revealed that he and Priyanka Gandhi had met with the parents recently.
Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government rushed the gubernatorial appointment before the results of the CBI investigation were finalized and then attempted to silence the victims' family in the dead of night. He vowed that the Congress party would continue to stand by the family until full justice is served, stating that the fight would neither be silenced nor stopped.