Kashish Murder Case Sparks Outrage in Haldwani – Protesters Demand Death Penalty for Accused

Haldwani was once again gripped by anger after the Supreme Court acquitted the prime accused in the infamous 2014 Kashish murder case. The decision has reignited public outrage, with citizens, activists, and political representatives taking to the streets to demand capital punishment for the accused. The case, which had once shaken the entire state, has once again raised questions about the justice system.

By Thursday morning, hundreds of people had gathered at Buddha Park, marching through the streets and chanting slogans demanding justice for Kashish. When the crowd attempted to take out a rally, police tried to stop them, leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement. Many protesters jumped over gates and managed to reach the SDM Court premises despite the heavy security presence.

The protest has drawn wide support from across the city. Local MLA Sumit Hridayesh openly extended his support, urging the government to take strict action. Folk artist Shweta Mahara, along with several social, political, and student organizations, joined the agitation, emphasizing that this is not just about Kashish but about ensuring safety for all daughters of Uttarakhand. They have demanded exemplary punishment to deter such crimes in the future.

The 2014 case remains one of the most shocking incidents in Uttarakhand’s history. A minor girl from Pithoragarh had gone missing during a wedding function at Ramleela Ground in Haldwani’s Shishmahal area on November 20, 2014. Six days later, her body was recovered from the Gaula River. The postmortem confirmed sexual assault and murder, sparking massive outrage at the time.

In March 2016, a special court sentenced the prime accused, Akhtar Ali, to death — a verdict later upheld by the High Court in 2019. However, the Supreme Court recently overturned the conviction citing lack of sufficient evidence, which has now triggered a fresh wave of anger across the state. Protesters insist that justice has been denied and are demanding that the government seek the highest possible punishment.

In response to the public outcry, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that the state government would file a review petition in the Supreme Court to challenge the acquittal. Meanwhile, heavy police deployment remains in place across Haldwani as authorities keep a close watch on the situation to prevent further escalation.