News Brief
Suspended AAP leader Tahir Hussain (Pic via Twitter)
AAP leader Tahir Hussain has emerged as one of the key figures in the Northeast Delhi riots which have claimed that lives of 38, including two security personnel - Rattan Lal and Ankit Sharma.
Hussain who is an AAP councillor from Nehru Vihar came into the picture following the gruesome killing of Intelligence Bureau (IB) official Ankit Sharma in Delhi’s Chand Bagh area.
Ankit, as per the postmortem report was stabbed 400 times. His body was later thrown into a drain. Ankit had reportedly attempted to save civilians from a rioting mob on the fateful night of 25 February and in the process identified himself as an IB officer.
A forensic team has now reached Hussain’s house and is probing his role in the riots.
Soon after the news of Ankit’s murder broke, his family including his father and brother accused Hussain of involvement in the murder.
“Tahir Hussain the AAP councilor is behind the murder of my brother. Anti CAA protestors took my brother and three others to the building which belongs to Tahir Hussain”, Ankit’s brother was quoted as saying.
His father subsequently followed it up with a police complaint, as a result of which Hussain has been booked on charges of kidnapping and murder. His factory in Khajoori Khaas has also been sealed by the police.
The matters worsened for Hussain when reports emerged of a violent mob pelting stones and petrol bombs from the rooftop of his home.
Media reporters who managed to entered his house also found petrol bombs, bricks and even acid bombs on the terrace.
In his defence Hussain has claimed that he had fled his house on Monday (24 February) along with his family, with the help of the police.
Getting Defended By AAP Leaders
Soon after the allegations against Hussain, AAP went into damage control mode. Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal demanded that if any member of the party was found guilty he should be given “double the punishment”.
Hussain though has not been isolated in the party and has received support from various leaders like Sanjay Singh and Amanatullah Khan.
Earlier yesterday (27 February) Singh backed Hussain by reiterating the latter’s defence in a bid to prove him innocent in the matter. Many speculated whether Hussain enjoyed a close relationship with AAP leaders and in the process revealed a “Happy Birthday Tahir Hussain” tweet posted by Singh.
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