The Delhi police have said that the death of a 26-year-old man, Tarun, on March 4, in the middle of the Holi celebration, in Uttam Nagar was not due to a communal angle but an argument on Holi.
Tarun Kumar suffered a head injury during a tiff between two neighbors, one Hindu and the other Muslim family. “On March 4, we received information regarding a clash between two families. Eight people were injured in the incident, and one of them died during treatment on March 5,” Dwarka Deputy Commissioner of Police Kushal Pal Singh said.
“Singh’s family has revealed some names, based on which we are checking the CCTV footage, and once we have evidence against the suspects, we will arrest them,” he added.
BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat said, “It is very shameful, when a kid hits someone by mistake and such an incident was carried out… We are consoling the family and the accused will not be spared at any cost…”
Moreover, it has been reported that the case has been altered to murder under section 103 (1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and seven people, including a minor, have been arrested in connection with the case.
What happened on March 4?
Amidst the celebration, gala, and gaiety of Holi, a wave of fatality swept over Delhi’s Uttam Nagar after a clash between two communities claimed the life of 26-year-old Tarun on Wednesday, March 4.
The incident unfolded in JJ Colony, following a dispute between members of Hindu and Muslim families after colored water from a balloon splashed on a woman. The local media reports that the color was forcefully applied without her consent. It has also been reported that she was subjected to alleged harassment alongside this, escalating an argument that in return turned into a violent clash.
Injuries were reported from both the families, and Tarun, who sustained severe injury, was rushed to hospital and later succumbed to injuries.
Tarun’s family alleged that the incident started when an 11-year-old girl threw a balloon filled with colored water at her relatives below; the balloon fell on the road and splashed on the women. The family alleged that the women began hauling and abusing and, along with the family members, attacked the deceased family.
The family alleged that although the dispute had appeared to settle initially, members of the other group later gathered and attacked Tarun while he was returning home. Tarun’s uncle, Ramesh, claimed that his nephew was unaware of the earlier altercation.
“The moment he entered the street, some eight to 10 people attacked him with sticks, rods, and stones. My nephew had no idea about the fight, but he was still attacked. They thrashed him so badly that he died during treatment,” Ramesh said.
Protests Erupted
As the family mourned Tarun’s death, news of the incident spread through the locality, triggering communal tension after members of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad staged large protests on Friday, March 6, demanding action against the accused.
Police maintained heavy deployment in the area to keep the situation under control. Drones were also used to keep watch on protesters and identify those involved in blocking the road and disrupting traffic.
Amid the tension in the area, a car and a motorcycle parked in Uttam Nagar’s JJ Colony were set ablaze on Friday afternoon.
The Delhi Fire Services said it received a call about the fire at 2.02 pm.
“Fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and the flames were doused promptly. Police have been informed about the matter,” a DFS officer said.
Police said no injuries were reported in the fire incident and added that an investigation had been launched to determine who set the vehicles ablaze.
