The Uttarakhand Police on Friday arrested a BJP leader's son for allegedly killing a 19-year-old girl who had been missing for the last few days.
The police arrested the owner of the resort Pulkit Arya, the BJP leader's son, and his two employees. The resort is located in Yamkeshwar block of Pauri district.
The body of the girl, identified as Ankita Bhandari, was found from Pauri Garhwal's Nandalsun belt on Friday by the Uttarakhand police. The girl had been missing for the last four days from a resort located in Rishikesh, where she used to work.
The girl worked as a receptionist at the resort.
"The girl, identified as Ankita Bhandari, went missing five or six days ago. The area of the resort didn't come under a regular PS area. There's a patwari police system here, and an FIR was registered under that. It was done on behalf of the resort owner," Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar said.
Pulkit Arya is the son of Vinod Arya, a BJP leader from Haridwar, and a former chairman of Uttarakhand Mati Kala Board. Vinod Arya has been granted a state minister's rank but holds no post in the government.
Reportedly, a case of abduction was registered by the revenue police on Tuesday, which was transferred to the regular police on Wednesday morning.
"DM handed over the case to Laxman Jhula Police yesterday, who worked out the case within 24 hours. The resort owner turned out to be the accused. Three accused, including owner Pulkit, were arrested. It's being said that his father has some links to a party. Pulkit has been jailed," the DGP informed.
The killing of the girl has led to a protest in Rishikesh. Women gheraoed the police vehicle that was carrying the accused.
Videos have also surfaced online showing dozens of people gathered outside and vandalised the resort. People can seen throwing stones at the windows of the resort.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his grief over the incident and said that culprits will not be spared.
"This is a very sad incident... whoever the culprit is, no one will be spared," he said.
(with PTI inputs)
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