Delhi Violence: Case Filed Against AAP’s Tahir Hussain For Murder, kejriwal and Kapil mishra react

Tahir Hussain has admitted he can be seen in widely-circulated videos where stones and firebombs are thrown at crowds, but claims he was the target, not the attacker

New Delhi: 

Charges of murder and arson violence were filed against AAP leader Tahir Hussain, and other unknown people, this evening after it was alleged 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 stabbed to death on his way home on Tuesday. The post-mortem report, released today, indicated multiple stab wounds across his body.

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

Allegations Mr Hussain was involved in the death of Ankit Sharma were also made 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 responded to the allegations today, saying: “No one, be it any party, should be spared if they are responsible for inciting violence”.

At least 38 people have been killed and over 200 injured.

Delhi Police and the Home Ministry, to whom the cops report, have both said the situation is under control, but the violence has not abated and the death toll has climbed steadily since the first day.

Arvind Kejriwal reacted

New Delhi: 

Arvind Kejriwal today responded to allegations that a leader of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Tahir Hussain, was involved in the killing of Ankit Sharma, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) employee who was found dead in one of the areas in northeast Delhi most affected by violence over citizenship law protests.

“No one, be it any party, should be spared if they are responsible for inciting violence. Even if he is a part of my cabinet, he should be punished. If anyone from AAP is found guilty, they should get double the punishment,” the Delhi Chief Minister told reporters, asked about Tahir Hussain.

“I personally believe, when it comes to national security and clashes…. I have been seeing this since morning, this matter should not be politicised,” Mr Kejriwal said

Flaring up, he added: “Why are you asking for remarks… is this how we will run our criminal justice system? If anyone is accused from our side, give them double the punishment. Stop politicizing national issues.”

38 people have been killed in the clashes that broke out on Sunday evening and spiraled into mob violence, arson, looting and vandalism on the streets.

Ankit Sharma, whose body was found in a drain near his home in Jaffrabad, 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, an AAP municipal councilor, had killed his son. He alleged that his son had been shot after he was beaten

Videos shared show a man believed to be Mr Hussain on the roof along with some men who appear to be involved in stone-throwing. There are allegations that petrol bombs were thrown from the roof.

At one point the man believed to be Mr Hussain is seen carrying a lathi.

Kapil mishra accused Tahir Hussain of killing

• Kapil Mishra claimed that the “killer” was Tahir Hussain
• Kapil Mishra has been accused of inciting violence in Delhi
• Number of deaths have gone up to 38 in northeast Delhi

BJP leader Kapil Mishra, whose pro-citizenship rally in northeast Delhi’s Maujpur on Sunday afternoon has been accused of inciting violence in the national capital that has killed 38 and injured over 200, was unabashedly aggressive this evening, accusing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of involvement in the death of Intelligence Bureau (IB) employee Ankit Sharma.

Mr Mishra was quoted by news agency ANI as claiming that mobile phone records of Tahir Hussain, Mr Kejriwal’s party colleague, who has also been accused of involvement in Mr Sharma’s death, would prove both leaders’ participation, and that of the AAP’s Sanjay Singh.

“If Hussain’s phone call details, during the violence, are released, it would reveal Sanjay Singh and Kejriwal’s role in the violence and Ankit Sharma”s murder,” he said, referring to unverified videos that purportedly show Mr Hussain on the roof of a building near Mr Sharma’s residence during the violence.

“The killer is Hussain. In the video, Tahir Hussain can be seen with the masked boys carrying sticks, stones, bullets and petrol bombs. Tahir Hussain was constantly talking to Kejriwal and AAP leaders,” Kapil Mishra claimed.

Mr Mishra, who has a history of making incendiary remarks, was similarly combative yesterday, hitting out at those demanding his arrest after a video of his Maujpur speech, in which he was seen giving Delhi Police an “ultimatum”, was played, with those of three other BJP leaders, in the Delhi High Court.

“No questions are being asked to people talking about dividing the country or those on whose terrace petrol bombs were found (a reference to Mr Hussain). But someone who only requested for roads to be cleared, as it was inconvenience to 35 lakh people is being called a terrorist,” he told reporters today.