Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 30 Mar: Uttarakhand Mahila Congress President Jyoti Routela today launched a sharp attack on the BJP government during a press conference held at the party’s state headquarters. At the press briefing, she raised serious concerns over law and order and women’s safety in Uttarakhand. Rautela said that the state, once known for peace and cultural values, is now facing alarming levels of crimes against women. Referring to recent incidents, she recalled the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case in Pauri Garhwal, where VIP involvement was alleged but action was delayed, the 2024 rape and murder of a nurse in Rudrapur, and the 2026 case of sexual assault on a minor in Kotdwar, all of which shook public conscience.
Rautela also alleged that since BJP came to power, cases of rape, murder and exploitation of women have become frequent, exposing the government’s failure to ensure safety. She cited figures showing a steady rise in crimes against women between 2021 and 2026, with 3,431 cases in 2021, 4,337 in 2022, 3,808 in 2023, 4,000 in 2024 and more than 4,200 in 2025, claiming Uttarakhand now ranks first among Himalayan states in such offences.
The Women Congress President in Uttarakhand further pointed to incidents reflecting the deteriorating law and order situation, including the recent death of a PRD jawan inside a police station, the killing of a student in Kehri, a body found hanging in Lal Kuan forest, violent clashes among students after the Angel Chakma case, and the shooting of a retired brigadier. She alleged that the capital has become a safe haven for mafia and criminals due to collapsing law and order. She pointed out that drug trafficking is drawing boys and girls into addiction, citing the recent death of a young woman in Chuna Bhatta. She also highlighted lapses in security at Nari Niketan, where a mentally ill woman committed suicide.
Rautela reminded that in the past month alone, more than ten serious crimes and murders have taken place in broad daylight in Dehradun, yet the state government has failed to control the situation. She accused the administration of being unable to curb rising violence and protect citizens.
She further alleged that drug trafficking is flourishing in Dehradun, citing the discovery of a woman’s body in Chuna Bhatta and over ten serious crimes reported in the capital within a month. She also claimed that the criminals are acting fearlessly while the state government has failed to curb rising violence and protect its citizens.
Among those present at the press conference were Mahila Mahanagar President of Congress Urmila Thapa, district president Poonam Kandari, general secretary Sushila Sharma and Savitri Thapa among others.
