Ankita Bhandari murder: Autopsy points to drowning and injury marks

Uttarakhand: Ankit Bhandari's autopsy report says that she died of drowning. She also has 4-5 injury marks on the body.

The 19-year-old resort receptionist's death has led to outrage and protests in Uttarakhand. She was allegedly murdered by resort owner and BJP leader Vinod Arya's son Pulkit Arya. Two staff were also arrested by the police. Police suspect that she was murdered for resisting their attempts to push her into prostitution.

Her body was recovered from a canal close to the resort on September 24. The arrested staff confessed to pushing her in during an argument. According to the police, Ankita was last seen with three men in CCTV footage.

Pulkit Arya's father and brother have been expelled from the party after locals took to the streets. Vinod Arya denied all allegations and claimed his son is innocent.

Angry locals had set fire to the resort. Before that, some parts of the resort were demolished by local authorities claiming it was illegally constructed. Many criticised the move because it is likely a crime scene. The region saw massive protests over slow action by cops.

The family had initially refused to cremate Ankita's body and said the demolition of the resort was an attempt to destroy evidence. Yesterday evening, she was cremated.