DEHRADUN: Residents and members of civil society  groups  in this educational hub here have raised their  concern over the rising incidents of heinous crimes and deteriorating law and order situation in Uttarakhand.

The infamous Ankita Bhandari murder case has rocked the conscience of hill people in the state and  in the capital  city, which has emerged as a big education hub in the region.

This case was followed by a foiled plot to kill Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bahuguna. Besides, the frequent murder cases are being reported from Udham Singh  Nagar district, sounding alarm for the police agencies. 

These  are the pointers towards the deteriorating law and order situation, said president, SDCF Dehradun, Anoop Nautiyal.

Social media is also rife with its concern over this spate in murder cases in the state.

The spate in crimes has  raised a question mark on the Pushkar Singh Dhami government and police agencies in Uttarakhand, they pointed out.

Chief Minister faced a lot of flake over the sensational disappearance and murder of Ankita Bhandari, a hotel receptionist in one Vanatara private resort last month.

The hundreds of protestors were on the streets in support of the parents of Ankita Bhandari, seeking justice for the victim in the fast track court.

The police arrested owner of the resort, his manager and his friend who is son of a BJP leader from Uttarakhand. BJP high command expelled the BJP leader.  

Social media is also angry over the delay in investigation. A similar case of disappearance of a girl from the same resort was giving the police sleepless nights, charged the residents. 

Chief Minister Dhami constituted a Special Investigation Team(SIT)  on October 8 to probe the murder case and bringing the accused to justice.

DIG P Renuka Devi is heading the SIT.  But it has yet to complete the investigation.

SIT has found that Vanatara resort was run by the owner without any registration with department of tourism. “We have sent report to the concerned authority for necessary action in this case”, DIG told media.  

In the second case, Police nabbed four accused in the plot to murder Bahuguna early this week from Uddham Singh Nagar. The police also recovered Rs 2.70 lakh cash and a swift car from them.

The residents rued there is a wider pattern of deteriorating law and order emerging in Uttarakhand. “Several worrying incidents have recently come to light”.

Naysayers tend to treat these as one offs. However, threats remain and state govt and Uttarakhand Police need to assuage fears and restore public faith in the law and order machinery.

Be it the Ankita Bhandari murder, the plot to assassinate Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bahuguna or frequent murders in US Nagar district.

“These are all manifestations of the expanding mafia culture in Uttarakhand. Most crimes have their roots in land, mining etc commercial disputes”.

SDFC cited data of crime in Uttarakhand of 2021.

The state reported 1245 cases of crime against children, 534 cases of rape & 208 murders.

This figure is the highest among the nine  Himalayan states according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report for 2021.

“Rape, cases against children, promoting enmity were few highlighted categories!”, they pointed out.

Uttarakhand has always taken pride in being a relatively quiet & crime free region.

However; recent happenings are grim markers of the evolving critical situation, said Nautiyal.

To stem this rot, the state and its agencies need to be ethical and proactive in exercising powers. On the other, society also needs counseling and support.

“This is a grave, identity issue involving the state and people of Uttarakhand!”, said Nautiyal, expressing his concern.