The body of an under-training staffer of the Intelligence Bureau was found in a drain on Wednesday morning in Chandbagh, a riot-ravaged area in northeast Delhi.

Police said 26-year-old Ankit Sharma, who worked as a security assistant with the IB, had allegedly been attacked by a mob at Chandbagh bridge and was beaten to death and his body later thrown into the drain.

He was a resident of Chandbagh. “The body has been sent for an autopsy and the exact cause of his death will be ascertained only after that,” said a police officer.

Ankit had joined the IB in 2017. His family had been looking for him after he was reported missing on Tuesday.

The family accused the police of inaction, alleging that cops did not file a complaint when they approached them on Tuesday night.

Ankit’s father Devendra, who also works with the IB, said the young man had returned home around 5.30pm on Tuesday but left soon after to assess the situation outside.

“When he did not return, we started looking for him. We also went to the GTB and LNJP hospitals to check whether he was admitted there, but could not find him.

“We kept looking for him till 3am on Wednesday. Around 10am, we got information that his body was lying in the Chandbagh drain. We had never thought he would be killed,” Devendra said.

Ankit’s mother Sudha said he had been murdered with bricks and knives.

Ankit’s brother Ankur said some women from their colony had informed the family in the morning that they saw people throwing Ankit into the drain.

“When the persons saw the women, they threatened them with dire consequences if they told anyone. He had suffered several stab wounds before being dumped into the drain,” Ankur claimed.

The family alleged that the local councillor and his associates were behind the killing of Ankit. There was no immediate reaction from the AAP on the allegation.

Ankit is also survived by a sister.