The family’s version of events threads together with what the neighbours claim. On Thursday, Ankit’s father told BBC Hindi: “The boy was returning from his duty. He went to see the stone-pelting. Then around 15-20 men came from Tahir’s building and took him away…Tahir Hussain is a traitor. He got a lot of people from outside to unleash the violence.”

According to a Wall Street Journal report, however, Ankit’s brother, Ankur, had earlier given a different version of the incident. “They came armed with stones, rods, knives and even swords; they shouted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ [Glory to Lord Ram]; some even wore helmets,” said Ankur Sharma, in a telephone interview to the Journal. “They started throwing stones and bricks at residents, who rushed to Ankit to help them...Later, his body was found in a ditch.”

Ankur later said the Wall Street Journal was “lying”. The family lodged two police complaints against the publication.

Across the road, in Moonga Nagar, the story stays the same. Ravi, a resident of Gali No 6, said the first round of stone-pelting began at 9.30 pm on Sunday, February 23.

“It began in front of the building and continued for nearly three hours,” he said. “The police came and controlled the situation then.”

The next day, Ravi said, stone-pelting and arson began at around 2 pm and went on for 9-10 hours. “Tahir remained in the building throughout the day. There were about 150-200 people on his terrace throwing the objects towards us,” he said. “The mob swelled in numbers on Tuesday and similar violence occurred.”

However, the conspiracy theories here also flew thick and fast — though little proof could be provided when they were countered.

For example, Dinesh, who also lives in Gali No 6, claimed Tahir’s building is “mysterious”. “Atankvadiyon ka kaam hota hai waha, PFI ki bhi funding hoti hain,” he alleged. Terrorist activities happen there. They get PFI funding.

The “funding from PFI” spiel has been used before. During the Delhi election, Sudhir Chaudhary claimed the citizenship law protesters were funded by the PFI. Zee News went a step further and said Congress leader Kapil Sibal received money from the PFI to fund the protests. Both claims were debunked by Newslaundry.

Dinesh also claimed there’s a “secret entrance” at the back of the building through which Tahir brought in rioters from “outside”. “Ever since the Shaheen Bagh protest began, we have regularly seen outsiders come in cars to the building and leave it after several hours,” he said.

Both Ravi and Dinesh said Tahir moved to the area only in 2017. He is actually from Mustafabad, they explained. “He bought this plot, around 1,100 yards, from a Gujjar man after winning the municipal corporation of Delhi election,” Dinesh said.

Vandalism and arson in the area destroyed a number of shops on both sides of the road facing the building. On Thursday evening, the ruins had not been cleared away yet.

Shyam Sahni ran a tea and snacks stall opposite Hussain’s house for about 10 years. His shop was vandalised and burned on Monday night, he said, and he lost property and cash worth Rs 5 lakh.

“There were three Pepsi fridges, two ice-cream storage boxes, and a few chairs and tables inside,” Shyam said. “All were gutted in the fire. The rioters also looted four gas cylinders and nearly Rs 35,000 in cash.”