Journalist Ashutosh Negi, apart from covering this movement, was also conducting the movement. It is said that he was arrested late on Tuesday night on the instructions of the government. As soon as he was arrested, people came to the streets and demonstrated.
उत्तराखंडः अंकिता भंडारी कांड को उठाने वाला पत्रकार देर रात गिरफ्तार, विरोध में सड़कों पर उतरा जन सैलाब
Ankita Bhandari murder case in Uttarakhand is once again in the headlines. Journalist Ashutosh Negi, who was running a movement to get justice for Ankita in the murder case that took place one and a half years ago, has been arrested by the police late in the night. Thousands of people have come out on the streets and protesting against this. A hashtag campaign has also started on social media. The agitating people have accused the police of saving BJP leaders.
The body of Ankita Bhandari, who went missing in Uttarakhand on 18 September 2023, was found in the Chilla Canal of Rishikesh on the morning of 24 September. She was a receptionist at Vananthara Resort in Rishikesh. Police had told that the owner and manager of the resort were pressurizing Ankita to provide special service to special guests. When he protested they killed him. The names of some BJP leaders had come up in this case, but when the police did not take any action, people got angry. At the same time, all the evidence was destroyed by demolishing the beach resort with bulldozers.
Since that time, Ankita’s father Virendra Singh Bhandari has been demanding a CBI investigation into the case. Local journalist Ashutosh Negi raised this issue from the beginning. He covered it extensively on his portal. After this, with the help of Negi, people formed Yuva Nyay Sangharsh Committee and started a movement in Pauri. The movement has once again intensified in the last few days. His parents and local people are sitting on a dharna in Pauri, where slogans and speeches are also being made against the government.
Journalist Ashutosh Negi, apart from covering this movement, was also conducting the movement. It is said that he was arrested late on Tuesday night on the instructions of the government. As soon as he was arrested, people came to the streets and demonstrated. He alleges that the police is now also taking action against the people demanding justice for Ankita.
However, journalist Ashutosh Negi had already known from sources that the police was going to arrest him. Before his arrest, on March 4, he wrote in a tweet – “News quoting solid sources, DGP Abhinav Kumar’s instructions to SSP Pauri Shweta Chaubey, somehow add new sections to Ashutosh Negi and put him in jail, after I go to jail. Let the fight continue to get justice for Ankita… Jai Pahad-Jai Pahari Pahadism zindabad.”
On the arrest of journalist Negi, DG of Uttarakhand says that Ashutosh Negi has been arrested for spreading chaos in the society. DGP says that he was provoking people. DG said that Ashutosh Negi has been arrested. His role is currently being investigated. He is being accused without any evidence. In this entire matter, there was full support from the Uttarakhand government. Police is working without any pressure. In this case, the people making absurd allegations are either swayed by emotions or are doing so under some agenda.
However, a large number of people took out a procession in Pauri and belied the police’s words. People alleged that the police could not arrest Ankita’s father so they arrested Ashutosh Negi. Earlier, the police had also registered a case against Negi under SC/ST section. There is a lot of anger among the people due to this action of Uttarakhand Police.