{
  "id": 14613752,
  "title": "Rahul Gandhi's visit, crackdown, hunger strike threat: Inside a long night at India Gate during protest by Ankita Bhandari's parents",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/rahul-gandhis-visit-crackdown-hunger-strike-threat-inside-a-long",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T04:47:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rahul-gandhis-visit-crackdown-and-hunger-strike-threat-inside-long-night-delhi-india-gate-protest-ankita-bhandari-parents-police-detention-congress-101792037304445.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Thursday night, a police crackdown in Delhi's India Gate prevented a sit-in protest by the parents of Ankita Bhandari, whose murder in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal district in September 2022 sparked the demonstration. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and a Congress MP, had joined the protest the previous evening, along with several party leaders and workers. The parents demanded that Dushyant Kumar Gautam, a former Uttarakhand BJP official, be prevented from taking up the Governor position in Sikkim until the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) completes its probe into allegations of a VIP angle in the case. Following Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera and Congress leader Supriya Shrinate, the protest resumed with Congress leaders and workers raising slogans. Police intervened before dawn, detained Ankita's parents and removed party workers from the site. Rahul Gandhi returned with his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other Congress leaders to show support for the grieving family. The protest, near India Gate and Kartavya Path, continued into the early hours as police detained the family and moved away protesters. Ankita's father threatened a 24-hour hunger strike if Dushyant's appointment was not revoked, while her mother vowed to continue her sit-in at home if the demand was not met. Congress leaders criticized the police action, alleging it targeted those fighting for justice for Ankita Bhandari and opposing Gautam's appointment.",
  "summary": "As he was being detained, Ankita’s father gave the Centre 24 hours to cancel Gautam’s appointment. Her mother warned that she would go on a hunger strike.",
  "key_points": [
    "Police crackdown prevents protest at India Gate",
    "Rahul Gandhi joins protest, calls for Gautam's appointment revocation",
    "Ankita's parents threaten 24-hour hunger strike"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
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        "title": "India sends ‘cockroach’ leaders to jail after protest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/india-sends-cockroach-leaders-to-jail-after-protest",
        "published": "2026-10-14T23:57:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Ankita Bhandari's parents detained at 4am during protest at Delhi's India Gate, mother threatens hunger strike",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/ankita-bhandaris-parents-detained-at-4am-during-protest-at-delhis",
        "published": "2026-10-15T01:29:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express - India",
        "title": "Ankita Bhandari’s parents briefly detained after India Gate protest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/ankita-bhandaris-parents-briefly-detained-after-india-gate-protest",
        "published": "2026-10-15T01:39:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Anti-CEC protest LIVE | Supreme Court likely to hear Rahul Gandhi, INDIA bloc leaders’ plea against SIR today",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/anti-cec-protest-live-supreme-court-likely-to-hear-rahul-gandhi-india",
        "published": "2026-10-15T01:42:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "India news: Supreme Court likely to hear Rahul Gandhi's Election Commision plea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/india-news-supreme-court-likely-to-hear-rahul-gandhis-election",
        "published": "2026-10-15T05:09:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "Imran Khan issued Leave India Notice by Mumbai Police after protest over CEC Gyanesh Kumar",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/imran-khan-issued-leave-india-notice-by-mumbai-police-after-protest",
        "published": "2026-10-15T05:16:53.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}