A Holi celebration in southwest Delhi’s Uttam Nagar ended in tragedy after a dispute between neighbours escalated into violence, resulting in the death of a 26-year-old man named Tarun. The incident occurred on March 4 during Holi celebrations in the JJ Colony area.
According to police and family members, the conflict started when an 11-year-old girl was playing Holi from the terrace of a house and threw a water balloon at her relatives standing below. However, the coloured water from the balloon accidentally splashed on a woman nearby.
This led to an argument between the two sides. What began as a verbal altercation soon turned into a physical clash between members of both families. Several people from both sides were injured during the confrontation.
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Tarun was seriously injured in the violence and was taken to a hospital for treatment. However, he later succumbed to his injuries, leaving his family devastated.
Family alleges brutal attack
Tarun’s grandfather, Maan Singh, said that the woman who was hit by the coloured water reacted angrily and began hurling abuses at them, which led to the initial confrontation. Singh, who was also injured in the clash, said that the situation initially appeared to have been resolved. However, he claimed that the woman later gathered members of her family and others from the community and returned to attack them during the Holi celebrations.
As per media reports, Tarun’s uncle, Ramesh, said that Tarun did not know about the dispute when he was attacked.
"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 was quoted as saying.
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Protests erupt demanding justice
Following Tarun’s death, tensions in the area rose sharply. His family members and several local residents staged protests outside the Uttam Nagar police station on Thursday, demanding strict action against those responsible for the attack. On Friday, the protests intensified when members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad gathered under the Uttam Nagar East Metro station to demand justice.
The protesters blocked roads for several hours, leading to heavy traffic congestion in the busy locality. Long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the road as the agitation continued.
During the protest, some angry demonstrators set a car and a motorcycle on fire, further escalating tensions in the area.
Police investigation underway
Police sources said large crowds gathered around the police station on Thursday and Friday as the protests continued. Security in the locality has been tightened to prevent any further escalation. Police have arrested four people and apprehended a juvenile in connection with the incident.
Officers are currently examining CCTV footage from the area and recording statements of witnesses to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the fatal clash.
Authorities have also appealed to residents to maintain peace and not pay attention to rumours while the investigation continues. Police said a strict vigil is being maintained in the area to ensure that law and order is not disturbed further.
