Ankita Bhandari's parents removed from Rajghat by police while demanding justice

Ankita Bhandari's parents, who had reached Rajghat in Delhi to demand justice for their daughter, were forcibly removed by the police. On Wednesday, Ankita's parents and two other individuals had started a protest near the public gate located close to the Mahatma Gandhi memorial. According to police sources, as the location was not a designated protest site, the police repeatedly asked them to move from there. However, when they refused to move, the police forcibly removed them.

During the incident, there was scuffling between the police and the protesters. According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, the police first apprehended Ankita's father and took him away, and subsequently, the mother was also picked up. During this process, Ankita's mother, Soni Devi, suddenly fainted while chanting slogans. Police personnel and others present at the scene gave her water, after which she was immediately admitted to Burari Government Hospital.

A day after the incident, Soni Devi released a video making serious allegations against the Delhi Police. Crying, she stated that the police personnel had pressed her nose, due to which she could not breathe. She further added that female police personnel behaved indecently with her and later pressed her neck. According to Soni Devi, the police personnel were telling them that they were performing 'nautanki' (drama). She questioned whether Ankita's parents are no longer allowed to come out to demand justice for their daughter, and whether raising a voice for a daughter is considered 'nautanki'?

In the video, Soni Devi also stated that she does not know where the police took her on the way and she regained consciousness only after reaching the hospital. This video was shared on social activist Yogita Bhayan's social media account, in which she questioned the police action. On the other hand, according to a report by Hindustan Times, police sources claimed that they were not detained, but merely removed from the spot. Despite being taken to the hospital for a medico-legal examination (MLC), Soni Devi and her husband refused to undergo a medical examination.

Following the incident, Burari AAP MLA Sanjiv Jha reached the hospital with his supporters, after which Ankita's parents left from there with the MLA. Through this protest, Ankita's parents were demanding an impartial investigation into the case and the removal of Sikkim Governor Dushyant Kumar Gautam from his post. It is noteworthy that two weeks prior to this incident, on 14 October, Ankita's parents were also detained by the police while protesting against the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Governor near India Gate.

On Wednesday, Ankita's parents were sitting at Rajghat observing a vow of silence. Social activist Yogita Bhayan and Congress leader Mumtaz Patel were also present with them. They had reached Rajghat to interact with the media and pray, after which they began their protest.

Regarding the background of the Ankita Bhandari case, she was working as a receptionist at Vantantar Resort in Rishikesh. She was murdered on 18 September 2022, and her body was found in the Chilla canal four days later. In this case, the resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, and his two associates have been sentenced to life imprisonment. The case drew political attention due to allegations of involvement of an unknown VIP, leading to demands by Ankita's family and activists for an investigation in that direction.