On February 25, 2020, Ankit went missing after he left his house to fetch household supplies. Police claimed he was taken away by the mob, murdered, and his body was dumped in a drain.

He was stabbed 52 times, according to the police. His body was retrieved from the drain the next morning.

The family said they moved out soon after the riots because of security concerns and the trauma of living in a place where every street reminded them of their tragedy.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Ankur said, “Every lane we crossed reminded us of what happened. Ek dum mann bhari ho jaata tha naala cross karte huye (Every time we crossed the drain, our hearts would feel unbearably heavy). Those memories never left us. We moved out, and we have been living on rent since then.”

The emotional toll has affected the entire household. The family said Ankit’s parents now suffer from high blood pressure, and every discussion about the riots or the case brings back stress and anxiety.

The family said justice would only be served when all those convicted in the case received the maximum punishment under law.

“They should also go through the same pain that we have gone through. My brother was a friendly person who interacted with both Hindus and Muslims. He had no bias against anyone, but when he was attacked, even his Muslim friends participated in the crime,” Ankur alleged.

He added that the family had become far more concerned about their personal safety since the riots. “We don’t reveal our address to anyone anymore, or do public interactions with the media on camera as we do not want anyone to get our address. We have safety and security concerns… It’s not easy to leave your house and stay elsewhere on rent,” he said.