Uttarakhand: Why has the Pithoragarh Kashish murder case heated up again after nine years? Now the government has taken a big step.

The rape and murder case of Kashish, an innocent girl from Pithoragarh district, has once again shaken Uttarakhand’s political and public sentiment. The Supreme Court’s acquittal of the accused in this horrific incident that occurred in 2014 has sparked outrage in the land of gods, Uttarakhand.

What is the Kashish murder case?
On November 20, 2014, 7-year-old Kashish, a resident of Pithoragarh, suddenly went missing during a wedding ceremony at the Ramlila Ground in Sheeshmahal, Haldwani. Six days later, her body was recovered from the Gaula River. A post-mortem confirmed that the girl had been raped and then murdered.

Public outrage also occurred in 2014
As soon as the case came to light, a wave of anger swept across the state. Protests erupted, raising questions about law and order. Police arrested three accused, including the main accused, Akhtar Ali.

Court Sentence and Then Relief
In March 2016, a special court sentenced the main accused, Akhtar Ali, to death, which was upheld by the High Court in 2019. However, the Supreme Court recently acquitted the accused. This decision has renewed the anger of the victim’s family and people across the state.

Why has the matter heated up now?
The case continued through the legal process for nearly nine years, but the recent Supreme Court decision has shaken the entire state. Demands for justice have intensified, from the general public to political circles. This is why the Dhami government is now preparing to file a review petition in the Supreme Court to seek a harsher punishment for the accused.