Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 1 (ANI): A day after a Kotdwar court awarded rigorous life imprisonment to the three men convicted of murdering 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari, Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) Deepam Seth credited the swift police action and thorough investigation for the outcome.

'When this incident happened, the 3 accused were arrested within 24 hours due to the immediate action of police,' DGP Seth told ANI in an exclusive interview.

He said the state police acted promptly under the directions of the Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami.

'Looking at the seriousness of the situation, an SIT was set up as per the directions of the Chief Minister and a female official of DIG rank was declared as its chairman,' he said.

Seth outlined the investigation process, saying, 'All evidence was collected, and after proper and deep investigation, an FIR of 500 pages was filed. ' The trial was conducted in a fast-track court.

'The sentence given will keep the convicts in jail till the end of their lives,' he said, describing the verdict as a strong message to anyone attempting to undermine the rule of law.

Meanwhile, the three men were found guilty of pushing Ankita Bhandari into a canal near Rishikesh in September 2022. The case sparked widespread outrage across Uttarakhand and led to statewide protests, demanding justice for the victim.

The body of Ankita Bhandari was recovered from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh on September 24. She was reported missing for at least six days before the officials found her body. An SIT headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police P Renuka Devi was initially probing the case.

The first hearing of the case started on January 30, 2023, in the ADJ Court in Kotdwar. Following the SIT's investigation, a 500-page chargesheet was submitted to the court. Charges were then formally framed against the three accused.

In the hearing that lasted for about two years and eight months, 47 witnesses, including the investigator, were examined in the court on behalf of the prosecution. However, the SIT had made 97 witnesses in this case, out of which only 47 important witnesses were produced in the court. (ANI)