Uttarakhand witnessed a significant wave of public anger on Sunday as large-scale protests demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the 2022 murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari swept across the state. The demonstrations, held in Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, and Almora, saw citizens, particularly youth and women, taking to the streets to seek accountability and justice, vowing to continue their agitation until their demands are met.
A March for Answers Meets Police Barricades
In the state capital, a massive crowd marched towards the Chief Minister's residence on the afternoon of January 4, 2026. However, a police force, described as larger than the gathering of protesters, stopped them approximately a kilometre from their destination with barricades. For participants like 26-year-old school teacher Shalini, the scene evoked memories of the historic Uttarakhand statehood agitation narrated by her parents.
Sitting on the road after being blocked, the protesters raised powerful slogans. "Mukhyamantri maun hai, VIP kaun hai (The Chief Minister is silent, who is the VIP)," they chanted, directly challenging the state's leadership over its perceived silence on the case.
Fresh Allegations Fuel Public Outrage
The current surge in protests was triggered by a fresh set of allegations made public recently. Urmila Sanawar, the wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, claimed that a VIP who sought sexual favours from Ankita Bhandari was a senior leader referred to as "Gattu". She released an audio clip where Rathore purportedly identifies the VIPs as BJP national general secretary Dushyant Gautam and another senior party leader.
Rathore later countered that the clip was AI-generated and accused Sanawar of defaming the party. Gautam has denied any involvement. Police have registered two cases under the IT Act against the duo and issued a notice. Despite their absence from the public eye since the allegations surfaced, a sustained public movement has coalesced, with the core demand being a state recommendation for a CBI investigation.
The 2022 Murder and the VIP Shadow
Allegations of VIP involvement have loomed over the case since the beginning. Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist, was murdered in September 2022, allegedly for refusing to provide sexual favours to a VIP guest. The prime accused was Pulkit Arya, the manager of the Vanantara resort and son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya. Her body was recovered from a canal in Rishikesh on September 24, 2022, six days after she was reported missing. Vinod Arya was subsequently expelled from the BJP.
While the defence initially argued that Bhandari died by suicide, the prosecution built a case on evidence including WhatsApp chats. These chats revealed she was disturbed by "obscene proposals" for extra services. In one poignant message, she wrote, "I am poor, but will I sell myself for Rs 10,000?"
Ultimately, Pulkit Arya was convicted under sections for murder, causing disappearance of evidence, sexual harassment, and the Immoral Trafficking Act. Two others, Ankit Gupta and Saurabh Bhaskar, were also convicted for murder and related charges.
A Movement Rooted in Broader Discontent
For protesters, Ankita's case symbolizes systemic failures. Shalini linked it to the unsafe conditions for women and job insecurity, citing a report that placed Dehradun among India's 10 most unsafe cities. "How many women will have to give up their lives before the government takes action?" she asked.
The protest saw support from a broad coalition of Opposition parties, including the Congress, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, Uttarakhand Swabhiman Morcha, and left parties like the CPI(M) and CPI(ML).
Protesters like Ajay Negi from Lansdowne and environmentalist Atul Kumar connected the outrage to deeper issues: economic distress, environmental degradation, paper leak scandals, and a perceived disconnect of the leadership from local sentiments. "The hills are being haunted by bears and leopards; snow has not fallen... the Ankita incident is a breaking point," said Kanishk Badiyari of the Garhkumaon alliance.
The Road Ahead: An Ultimatum to the Government
The protesters have issued a clear ultimatum. A state-wide strike has been called for January 11, setting a deadline for the government to recommend a CBI probe. Failure to do so, they warn, will lead to a civil disobedience agitation.
As a protester placed a "VIP?" sticker on a police station signage, the resolve was clear. The people of Uttarakhand have drawn a line, declaring that their fight will persist until all the guilty are punished and Ankita Bhandari gets complete justice.
