Four more people were arrested and booked for murder on Friday, taking the total arrests to eight, two days after a 26-year-old man was killed during clashes between two families from different communities in JJ Colony in Uttam Nagar over a water-filled balloon thrown by a minor girl during Holi celebrations, police said. One minor was also arrested.
Meanwhile, tensions continued for a third day in the area, with demonstrators setting fire to two cars and smashing the windows of two others, police said.
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According to officials, the incident that led to the clashes occurred around 10:30 pm on Wednesday when an 11-year-old girl from a Hindu family was celebrating Holi on their balcony, throwing water balloons at people below. One of these balloons hit a Muslim woman, which raised her objection. The quarrel developed into a violent clash during which both parties assaulted each other, according to what investigators familiar with the details of the case reported.
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At least four people were injured, three of them from a Hindu family. Tarun Kumar, 26, died of his injuries on Thursday morning. His family claimed in their complaint to the police that he was “stalked” by neighbors who attacked him with bats, sticks and stones.
On Friday, communal tension escalated after members of a Hindu political group allegedly committed arson in the area in protest. Senior police officers said that at around two o’clock in the afternoon, a group of demonstrators chanted slogans against the Muslim community and set two cars on fire.
Officials from the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) confirmed a call from the scene, where they found a destroyed car and motorcycle.
Protests continued for a second day outside Uttam Nagar Metro station, police station and Hatsal Colony, where residents blocked roads. Local residents and police officials said that many local shop owners have closed their establishments.
The previous day, Kumar’s family members and neighbors protested outside Uttam Nagar police station, along with members of a Hindu political group. Later, protesters allegedly tried to attack the Muslim family’s home, prompting police intervention.
The deceased’s uncle, Ramesh, said the 11-year-old girl threw balloons at family members, but one of them exploded on the ground, scattering the woman’s burqa. “I apologized and even apologized to the 11-year-old. What could we do? They beat us first. I suffered serious injuries to my head, chest and hand. The doctors put eight stitches and I still feel pain. Tarun came half an hour later… and before he could stop his bike, they jumped on him and attacked him.” He added that he was now demanding “bulldozer justice” – an apparent reference to the controversial and lawless practice of using bulldozers to demolish the buildings of individuals accused of crimes.
He also claimed that there had been previous confrontations with the same family. “This is not the first time. They attacked us during Holi about 12 years ago.”
Man Singh, Tarun’s grandfather, who was also injured, said the two families have known each other since the late 1960s, having lived together in the slums near Uttam Nagar before moving to Hastsal Colony. Both families originally hail from Rajasthan.
However, a senior police officer, speaking anonymously, said the families have known each other for decades and have a long history of disagreements with each other which often leads to fights and quarrels over trivial matters.
“It is not entirely a communal issue. Families have always been fighting over garbage, water, parking and other trivial issues. They also fight physically and later settle the issues. We are still investigating all angles,” said the above-mentioned officer.
Tarun, the youngest of three brothers, was pursuing diplomas in interior design and digital marketing. “He was ambitious. He wanted to work in a company in Gurugram,” said his uncle Memraj, who was also injured.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said that a case of murder has been registered.
