A Delhi court sentenced former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four others to life imprisonment for the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma [1].

The verdict concludes a legal battle lasting six years [2]. It marks a significant step in the pursuit of justice for a high-profile killing that occurred during the 2020 Delhi riots [3].

Speaking after the July 14 verdict, Ankit Sharma's brother expressed a sense of relief but maintained that the punishment was insufficient. He called for the death penalty for all those convicted of the crime [4].

"All guilty must face death penalty," the brother said [5].

The family has spent six years attending countless court hearings to secure a conviction [2]. Despite the life sentences handed down to the five convicts [1], the family continues to seek what they describe as the rarest of rare punishment for the killers [1].

Sharma was an officer with the Intelligence Bureau who died while serving his country [6]. His brother highlighted the brutality of the crime and the professional sacrifice his sibling made.

"He died serving his country, serving its people... I can’t even describe what they did to him," the brother said [6].

Throughout the proceedings, the family emphasized that the fight for justice is not over. They have publicly stated their desire for the court to upgrade the life sentences to capital punishment [4].

"We want the death penalty for those who killed my brother," the brother said [7].

“"All guilty must face death penalty."”

The sentencing of Tahir Hussain and four others provides a legal resolution to a murder case tied to the 2020 Delhi riots, a period of intense civil unrest. However, the family's demand for the death penalty underscores the ongoing tension between judicial sentencing guidelines and the victims' expectations of 'absolute' justice in cases involving public servants killed during communal violence.