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Almora: In a shocking act of protest, Kusum Lata Baudai and her younger sister Sanjana, a Class 10 student from the Salt development block of Almora district, wrote a letter to President Droupadi Murmu using their blood. The sisters said they were deeply disturbed by reports that the name of a “VIP” has again surfaced in the Ankita Bhandari case.
Through their letter, they asked whether influential people are above the law and how ordinary families can feel safe if justice is delayed when a daughter of the country is murdered.
Appeal to the President
The sisters wrote, “India is a justice loving country and you are not only the first person of the country, but also a lady and our guardian. Hence, we request you to intervene in this matter and provide justice by punishing all involved including the ‘VIP’.” Their letter was sent to the President through the Sub‑Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Kashipur.
Statement by Kusum Lata
Kusum Lata, who is also the state spokesperson of the Kisan Manch and president of the Pahad Foundation, said the letter was not just a request but a form of protest. She accused the system of being insensitive and claimed that important evidence in the case had been destroyed. According to her, the involvement of influential people is one of the main reasons for the delay in justice.
Public anger and activists’ response
Women’s rights organisations said that the fact a school‑going girl felt forced to write a letter in blood shows the deep disappointment and loss of trust people have in the system. Activists added that the issue has now gone beyond Ankita Bhandari’s family and has become a larger movement for the safety and dignity of all daughters in Uttarakhand.
Protests have been reported from several places, with people demanding strict punishment for those involved, including the alleged VIP.
Protests in Dehradun
On Sunday, various organisations and political parties marched towards the Chief Minister’s residence in Dehradun, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the case. Thousands of protestors took part, leading to tense situations and clashes with police near Hathibarkala.
Police clarification
Meanwhile, Haridwar Rural SP Shekhar Suyal said the police investigation did not find the involvement of any VIP. He clarified that the person mentioned in chats and questioning, Dharmendra Kumar alias Pradhan from Noida, was Ankita’s friend and not a VIP.
