The father of 26-year-old Tarun Kumar, the man who died in the clashes that broke out in Delhi’s Uttam Nagar earlier this week, has demanded a CBI probe into his son’s killing and questioned the Delhi Police’s investigation into the matter.
On the night of Holi, March 4, violence broke out in the Uttam Nagar area of the national capital after a minor girl threw water balloons from the balcony at passers-by downstairs, one of which allegedly injured a Muslim woman who objected. The dispute later turned into a quarrel, with physical violence erupting between families in the area, according to police, which led to at least four people being injured and Kumar dying of his wounds the next morning.
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“The victim was not aware of the fight and was playing Holi with friends.”
According to Kumar’s family, he was not present when the fight initially broke out as he was with his friends playing Holi. However, when Kumar returned home, he was detained in the corridor and assaulted by eight to ten people with rods, sticks and stones, his uncle Tek Chand told HT.
Memraj, the victim’s father, said: “The group attacked him with iron rods and sticks, repeatedly hit his head and threw a heavy board on his chest, killing him. He was our only support and was studying digital marketing. We are poor people.”
Appeal to Prime Minister Modi, Delhi CM
He added that although the police said they had made arrests in this case, they did not show them anything. “I appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to take strict action against those responsible,” Memraj said, adding that they want a CBI probe into the matter.
Also read: Holi water balloon fight, protest, man’s death: What’s happening in Delhi’s Uttam Nagar?
On Friday, Memraj along with a few people also went to Uttam Nagar police station for a sit-in protest demanding action on his son’s death; But he claimed that the police resorted to using birdshot on them.
Describing what happened on the night of Holi that led to the clashes, Tarun’s father said that when they were preparing for bed, the girl dropped a water balloon and the woman passing by in that lane objected to it and called her family, who turned the dispute into a fight.
“It was March 4, Holi day, around 11 pm. We were getting ready for bed when a 6/7 year old girl accidentally dropped a water balloon from above. A woman who was passing through the corridor caused a dispute over it. We apologized, but she gathered her family members. Soon 15 to 20 people arrived with sticks and rods and started attacking us. We ran inside the house, but they locked the door from outside. Many family members were injured,” she reported. Agency for Mamraj. As he says.
Also read: Delhi’s Uttam Nagar tense after man killed in clashes over Holi balloon; 8 were arrested
Vehicles burned, and protests broke out
After Tarun Kumar’s death, protests erupted in the region demanding justice for the victim. On Friday night, some vehicles, including a car and a bike, were also set on fire in Uttam Nagar, and protesters took to the streets and displayed pictures.
Police tightened security in the area and a rapid action force was deployed on Saturday morning to maintain law and order.
Dwarka District Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kushal Pal Singh, said that “adequate security arrangements” had been made in the area in view of the ongoing tensions.
“We have divided the area into zones, sectors and sub-sectors. Our motorcycles and vehicles are constantly patrolling,” he added, according to news agency ANI. Singh added that they “also contacted members of both communities and appealed to them to maintain peace and order in the area.”
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
