Case filed against AAP's Tahir Hussain for murder, arson during Delhi violence

NEW DELHI: Charges of murder, arson and violence were filed against AAP leader Tahir Hussain and other unknown people this evening, after it was alleged that he was involved in the death of Ankit Sharma, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) employee found dead in one of the areas in northeast Delhi most affected by violence over citizenship law protests.

Ankit Sharma, whose body was found in a drain near his home in Jafrabad, was allegedly attacked by a mob and beaten to death on his way home on Tuesday.

After the body was found on Wednesday, his father Ravinder Sharma, who is also an IB employee, alleged that supporters of Tahir Hussain had killed his son. He further alleged that his son had been shot after he was beaten; the body has been sent for an autopsy.

Allegations that Mr Hussain was involved in the death of Ankit Sharma were repeated today by BJP leader Kapil Sharma, whose pro-citizenship law rally in northeast Delhi's Maujpur has been linked to the violence that has scarred the national capital since.

"The killer is Hussain. In the video, he can be seen with the masked boys carrying sticks, stones, bullets and petrol bombs. He was constantly talking to Kejriwal and AAP leaders," Mr Mishra, who has a history of incendiary comments, was quoted by news agency ANI.

Videos shared with NDTV show a man believed to be Mr Hussain on the roof of a building near Ankit Sharma's residence with some men who appear to be involved in stone-throwing. There are allegations petrol bombs were thrown from the roof.

In the videos, thick smoke rises from below the same building, suggesting Mr Hussain's house too may have been under attack.

Mr Hussain denied the allegations in a video yesterday and today. He said his family and he "went to a safe place in the presence of police on 24th" and never returned home after that.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, whom Kapil Mishra also linked to Ankit Sharma's death, responded to the allegations today, saying: "No one, be it any party, should be spared if they are responsible for inciting violence".