Delhi riots case:Tahir Hussain, 4 others sentenced to life for murdering IB officer Ankit Sharma, court says crime shook society

During the 2020 Delhi riots, the Karkardooma Court on Friday sentenced former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain and four others to life imprisonment for the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma. While pronouncing the sentence, the court described the murder as an “extremely grave” crime that had “shaken society.” The Delhi Police had sought the death penalty for all five convicts. Earlier, on July 13, the court had convicted Tahir Hussain, Nazim, Kashim, Anas and Javed of murder, abduction, rioting and promoting communal enmity. Six of the 11 accused in the case were acquitted. Ankit Sharma’s body recovered from Khajuri Khas drain The incident occurred during the Northeast Delhi riots that began on February 23, 2020. According to the prosecution, Ankit Sharma stepped out of his home on February 25 but did not return. While his family was searching for him, locals informed them that his body had been seen in the Khajuri Khas drain near the Chand Bagh bridge. The following morning, police recovered Sharma’s body from the drain. Based on a complaint filed by his father, Ravinder Kumar, the Dayalpur Police registered an FIR in the case. Ravinder Kumar alleged that his son was murdered by then AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and his associates. According to the complaint, the accused had gathered at Hussain’s office before the incident and, after the murder, dumped Sharma’s body into the drain. Riots broke out during protests against CAA The violence erupted on February 23, 2020, when supporters and opponents of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) came face-to-face in Northeast Delhi. The confrontation soon escalated into widespread stone-pelting, arson and communal violence. The riots continued until February 26, leaving 53 people dead and more than 250 injured. Among those killed were 38 Muslims and 15 Hindus. The violence also caused extensive damage to property, with nearly 800 shops destroyed and more than 500 houses set on fire.