Uttarakhand Government to Challenge Supreme Court Verdict in 2014 Pithoragarh Rape-Murder Case
Dehradun, Uttarakhand: The Uttarakhand government plans to file a review petition in the Supreme Court over the shocking 2014 Pithoragarh rape and murder case of a minor girl. After consulting legal experts, the state decided to push for a rethink of the court’s recent ruling that acquitted the main accused.
The tragic incident happened on November 20, 2014, when a young girl from Pithoragarh vanished from a wedding at Ramlila Ground in Sheeshmahal, Haldwani. Six days later, search teams found her body in the Gaula River. A postmortem report confirmed she had faced sexual assault before her murder. The news triggered massive protests across Uttarakhand, with people furious about the poor law and order situation back then.
Police quickly arrested the prime suspect, Akhtar Ali, and two others. In March 2016, a special court handed down a death sentence to Akhtar Ali, and the Uttarakhand High Court upheld it in 2019. But the Supreme Court’s latest decision to acquit him has left the state government determined to fight back through a review petition.
CM Dhami Inspects Cloudburst Damage in Chamoli, Vows Quick Relief
In other news from Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited disaster-hit areas in Raipur and Mussoorie on Thursday to check on relief efforts after a deadly cloudburst. The heavy rains lashed Chamoli district late Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction and affecting over 200 people.
From the Emergency Operations Centre in Dehradun, CM Dhami first reviewed the cloudburst aftermath earlier in the day. Speaking to reporters, he shared the latest updates: "Around 35 houses have been damaged due to the cloudburst. About 20 people are injured, and 14 others are missing. Over 200 people have been impacted by this disaster in Chamoli."
Rescue teams sprang into action right away. The CM said all teams, including NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, and police, reached the spot quickly. District Magistrates (DM) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP) are leading operations on the ground. Injured victims got rushed to nearby hospitals, with the most serious cases heading to AIIMS Rishikesh. Teams are working hard to shift people to safer spots and fix damaged roads.
CM Dhami urged everyone to stay alert, especially with the monsoon still active. "We’ve put all districts, NDRF, and SDRF on high alert for the rest of September until the rains ease up," he added. He also touched on the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, advising pilgrims to check India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts before traveling to avoid risks.
Uttarakhand’s hilly regions often face such cloudburst challenges during monsoon season, and the state is ramping up disaster management to protect lives and property. Stay tuned for more updates on these developments.
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