Dehradun: The body of Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old staffer at a resort in Uttarakhand who went missing a few days ago, was recovered from the Chilla canal in the state on Saturday and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered an SIT probe led by DIG P. Renuka Devi to probe the murder.
The prime accused in the case is BJP leader Vinod Arya’s son Pulkit Arya.
Ankita, a resident of Dobh in Srikot, who used to work in the Vantara resort in Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal. She went missing on September 18.
The BJP has removed Vinod Arya as well as his other son Ankit following the incident.
Taking to Twitter, Dhami posted: “Today morning, Ankita’s body was recovered. Heart-broken with this heart-wrenching incident.”
On directions of the Chief Minister, the JCB razed to ground accused’s illegal resort on Friday night.
Strict action will be taken against the officers who were involved in the illegal construction of the resort, Dhami said.
“It is our resolve that the those guilty of this heinous crime will bot be spared,” he added.
Ankita’s family had lodged a missing complaint on September 21 with the revenue police and on the District Magistrate’s direction, the matter was transferred to regular police the next day.
Taking cognisance of the incident, Ashok Kumar, Director General of Police, Uttarakhand, had directed the Superintendent of Police, Pauri for a speedy investigation into the incident.
Following their arrest, they told the police that after murdering Ankita, they threw her body in Chila Shakti canal.
Under the guidance of DGP Uttarakhand, the SDRF started search for Ankita in Shakti Canal, Chila Power House.
SDRF rescue team has been searching the spot and the deep divers were also looking for the body in the bottom of the canal.
The search operation had resumed this morning during which the body was found.
The body has been handed over to the district police.
(IANS)
