The phrase “Body dragged like animal” comes from the sentencing order in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer Ankit Sharma, who was killed during the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. On 31 July 2026, a Delhi court sentenced former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four co-convicts to life imprisonment, rejecting the prosecution’s demand for the death penalty.
What happened in the case?
In February 2020, communal violence broke out in Northeast Delhi, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 people. During the riots, Ankit Sharma, a 26-year-old Intelligence Bureau employee, went missing. The next day, his body was recovered from a nearby drain. The murder became one of the most high-profile cases arising from the riots.
Why was Tahir Hussain convicted?
According to the trial court:
Tahir Hussain was found guilty of participating in a criminal conspiracy and leading a violent mob.
The court held that the mob attacked Ankit Sharma because of his religious identity.
Witness testimonies, videos, forensic evidence, and other material were relied upon by the prosecution during the trial.
Hussain and four others were convicted of murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, and related offences.
Why did the judge say “body dragged like animal”?
In its sentencing observations, the court described the murder as exceptionally brutal. It said that:
Ankit Sharma was subjected to extreme violence.
After the killing, his body was dragged and disposed of “like an animal”, showing complete disregard for human dignity.
The court said the crime reflected “utmost brutality” and caused immense suffering to the victim’s family.
Why was the death penalty not awarded?
The prosecution argued that the case fell within the “rarest of rare” category and sought capital punishment. However, the court decided that:
Although the crime was extremely grave and brutal, it did not satisfy the legal threshold required for imposing the death penalty.
Therefore, the court awarded life imprisonment instead.
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