Garhwal Post Bureau
Pauri/Dehradun, 22 Aug: Tensions rose sharply in Pauri Garhwal district after the suicide of Jitendra Singh, a resident of Talsari village, as his family today refused to perform his last rites, demanding justice and accountability in the case. The cremation, which was to be conducted today, was withheld when the family insisted that their conditions be fulfilled before proceeding. Their demands include capital punishment for Himanshu Chamoli, whom Jitendra Singh had named in his suicide video, the return of Rs 35 lakhs allegedly taken from him, and stringent legal action against all those accused.
Earlier this morning, when the body was being taken to the ancestral ghat for cremation, the family and local villagers halted the procession at Kirtinagar bridge and started a protest. Efforts by the police to disperse the assembly resulted in a tense standoff and the protestors blocked the Bilkedar-Srinagar motor road. This resulted in a big traffic jam on the road. Local residents, members of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, and people from nearby villages joined the agitation, calling for immediate administrative intervention.
Narendra, Jitendra’s brother, declared that the protest would continue until the family received a written assurance of justice from the Chief Minister. He also compared the case with the Ankita Bhandari murder case and asserted that the cremation would not be held until their demands received formal acknowledgement.
In response to the mounting unrest, police and administrative teams were dispatched to the scene. As this report was being filed, the officials were still trying to negotiate with the family.
It may be recalled that Jitendra Singh had died by suicide in his vehicle yesterday. Before his death, he posted a video on social media, tearfully accusing Himanshu Chamoli of deceiving him and taking Rs 35 lakhs in a property deal. Singh also owns a house in Bhaniyawala, Dehradun, where his wife and family reside. Himanshu Chamoli, who held the post of state secretary in the Uttarakhand Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), was promptly removed from his position after the incident and arrested.
According to Pauri police, preliminary investigations showed that, on the night of 20 August, Jitendra Singh, along with friends Bhagwan Singh and Saurabh Khanduri, went into the forest with a borrowed gun to hunt wild animals. The gun had been procured by Bhagwan Singh from his relative Thakur Singh of Thapli village. The trio travelled in Jitendra’s car, registration number UK 07 DL 9500, around 11 p.m. During the outing, Jitendra appeared deeply disturbed over a land and financial dispute and kept typing on his mobile phone.
On their return from the forest, Saurabh was driving, Jitendra sat in the passenger seat, and Bhagwan was in the rear. Around 4 a.m., Jitendra gave his mobile phone’s passcode to Saurabh and then shot himself. He had already recorded and uploaded the suicide video on social media before doing so.
Saurabh and Bhagwan immediately informed Jitendra’s father, Satish, who was in Bhaniyawala. He instructed them not to take any action until the family reached the village. Upon arrival, the family notified the police control room.
The police are currently recording the statements of Saurabh and Bhagwan under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) before the court. Investigators examined Jitendra Singh’s mobile phone and established that he and Himanshu Chamoli were involved in a property deal concerning a 3 and a half bigha plot in Ranipokhri. Jitendra had paid Rs 35 lakhs for the transaction, which never materialised, and the money was not returned. It is alleged that Himanshu Chamoli stopped answering Jitendra’s calls, resulting in severe mental anguish to him.
According to police sources, further evidence from Jitendra’s phone showed suicide-related videos recorded on 6 and 18 August, indicating long-standing emotional distress regarding the financial loss. Police are also scrutinising the land documents and bank records as part of their investigation.
Meanwhile, Himanshu Chamoli has been taken into custody and has been interrogated. During the interrogation, he has allegedly admitted to being involved in the property transaction but claimed that that the land deal could not be executed due to financial difficulties, stating that he too suffered monetary losses. The investigation is still underway.
