Opposition & public groups stage protest rally to CM residence in Ankita Bhandari case

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun 

Members of opposition parties, various organisations and public groups staged a protest rally to the chief minister’s residence here on Sunday, demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Ankita Bhandari murder case. The protesters accused the government of failure to ensure justice in the case.

Members of the Congress, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, CPI, Uttarakhand Berozgar Sangh, Rashtravadi Regional Party, Garhwal Sabha, Mahila Manch and other social organisations gathered at Parade Ground in the morning. From there, hundreds of protesters took out a protest rally towards the CM residence.

During the march, protesters raised slogans demanding justice for Ankita Bhandari. When the protesters reached Hathibadkala, they were stopped by the police which had placed barricades on the road. Members of the protesting organisations said that it is necessary to conduct further investigations following new allegations surfacing in the case. The protesters further alleged that Bhandari’s murder was not an ordinary crime, but the result of a criminal system operating under protection. They claimed that even after the name of the alleged ‘VIP’ involved in the case was mentioned in an audio recording of a conversation between former MLA Suresh Rathore and his alleged second wife Urmila Sanawar, the government has taken no action. They demanded that the strictest punishment should be ensured to those involved, considering the latest allegations.

Leaders and members of opposition parties and social bodies alleged that the government has been trying to protect the VIP since the beginning of the case. Stating this, they demanded a CBI investigation in the case. They alleged that the ruling party is ignoring the voices of the public.