Delhi Riots: Court Convicts Tahir Hussain in IB Staffer's Murder; Family Seeks Death Penalty
Six years after the 2020 Delhi riots, a Delhi court on Monday convicted former Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain and four others in the murder of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma. Sharma's body was found in a drain in Khajuri Khas, northeast Delhi, on February 25, 2020, the second day of the communal violence that claimed 53 lives.
Sharma's family, who have since moved away from their home near the drain, said the verdict has not eased their pain. In statements to the media, they alleged that Sharma was targeted because of his Hindu faith and demanded the death penalty for all convicted. Ankur Sharma, the victim's elder brother, said, 'My brother sacrificed his life for the nation,' and asserted that the killing was communal in nature.
The court's judgment comes after a prolonged investigation and trial. The five convicts were found guilty of murder and other charges. Sentencing is expected to be pronounced later this week.
The 2020 Delhi riots erupted during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The violence led to widespread loss of life and property, with hundreds injured. Authorities have since arrested multiple individuals in connection with the riots.
