AAP leader Tahir Hussain denies role in Delhi riots, says he was himself rescued by police
NEW DELHI : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Tahir Hussain was suspended from the primary membership of his party this evening, after he was charged with murder and arson in connection with 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.
Mr Hussain will remain suspended until the charges against him are investigated and he is cleared, a tweet by Delhi’s ruling AAP added. 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 Mishra, 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 media 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.
Meanwhile, 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.
Videos shared with NDTV 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.
In the videos, thick smoke rises from below the same building, suggesting Mr Hussain’s house too may have been under attack. Hussain denied the allegations in a video yesterday and today, he claimed that he and his family “went to a safe place in the presence of the police on 24th” and never returned home after that. “We only went there to get our cars out and that too because of the SHO (police officer). My wife went there and took some household things,” he claimed.
Hussain said that he had called Joint CP of Delhi Police Alok Kumar and former DCP Ajit Singla on February 24 when the riots broke out in Chand Bagh informing them that some rioters were trying to enter inside his home. According to Hussain, cops had searched his home on February 24 at 11 pm and he was then asked to leave the home with his family in order to save his life.
Hussain said that his house under the control of police after he left it with his family. The AAP leader said that it is possible that the rioters managed to enter inside his home after he left it on February 24. The DCP came and evacuated us and then investigated the building. I have given my byte to the party,” he added.
When asked that stones and petrol bombs have been found on the roof of his house, Hussain said that he was unaware about how these materials reached inside his home. Hussain asserted that he was ready to face any probe and will cooperate with the police in investigating the matter.
