New Delhi: Uttarakhand police on Friday recovered the body of 19-year-old girl Ankita Bhandari who went missing from a resort in Rishikesh about 5-6 days ago. The body of teenage girl was found in Nandalsun belt of Pauri Garhwal.
The teenage girl worked as receptionist in Yamkeshwar Vidhan Sabha’s Ganga Bhojpur resort and reportedly disappeared from the resort under suspicious circumstances.
Launching a manhunt for the accused, the Uttarakhand cops have arrested 3 people including Pulkit Arya, owner of the resort and son of former state minister Vinod Arya.
According to reports, the resort belongs to Pulkit Arya, son of an influential political family with links to BJP.
The girl went missing 5-6 days back. The area of the resort didn’t come under a regular PS area. There’s a patwari Police system here & an FIR was registered under that. It was done on behalf of resort owner: Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kr on Rishikesh 19-yr-old girl missing case (1/2) pic.twitter.com/gaKHZKuJy8
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) September 23, 2022
The incident has sent shockwaves in the hilly state as the latter remains largely peaceful and immune to crimes against women. As her death was confirmed by the cops, it triggered a wave of anger among the residents. Many citizens came out on streets to protest against ghastly crime while women gheroad the police vehicle that was carrying the accused.
#WATCH | Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: Women gherao the Police vehicle that was carrying the accused in Ankita Bhandari murder case
The 19-yr-old receptionist went missing a few days ago & her body was found today. 3 accused, incl Pulkit -owner of the resort where she worked- arrested pic.twitter.com/v3IK8zE1xI
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) September 23, 2022
Ankita Bhandari used to work as receptionist in the resort. On September 19, when she wasn’t spotted in her room in the morning, a report of missing person was registered with the police.
A case of abduction was registered by the revenue police and was subsequently transferred to the regular police on wednesday.
Briefing the media on the incident, Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar said,”The resort owner turned out to be the accused. Three accused, including owner Pulkit, were arrested. Pulkit has been put behind bars..”