Tarun Kumar, a 26-year-old Dalit youth, was beaten to death in the JJ Colony area of West Delhi’s Uttam Nagar on March 4. 

What began as a dispute between two families during the day’s Holi celebrations escalated late at night, resulting in a brutal assault on Kumar. The following morning, Kumar tragically succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

The incident quickly went viral on social media, stoking tensions in the area, while the accused fled after locking their homes. A week later, the area remains under heavy police presence and barricades; the influx of members from Hindu organisations and political parties has left residents living in fear.

On the afternoon of March 6, vehicles parked outside the house of the accused were set on fire. The compound of another house was also vandalised and set on fire. In the evening, a crowd from Hindu organisations gathered at the nearest metro station and staged a protest, shouting slogans. The crowd demanded that the authorities bulldoze the accused's houses and kill all those involved in an encounter. They also attempted to communalise the incident. The following day, these demands intensified. On March 8, the MCD demolished the exterior of one of the accused's houses, citing encroachment.

As tensions escalated, police cordoned off the area to prevent public movement. Heavy barricades and police deployments were placed on every street and corner. The situation became so severe that outsiders were almost completely barred from entering, and even residents were only allowed entry after presenting their Aadhaar cards, while the media was barred entirely. Despite such a strong presence, Newslaundry discovered that the police were allowing leaders of some Hindu organisations and certain media channels to enter the area.

On one side of the barricade were the police, while on the other side was a crowd of Hindu organisations talking to YouTubers. Newslaundry saw some of the leaders present there continuously abusing Muslims and threatening to kill them. Along with the abuse, they demanded that all the accused be killed in encounters and their houses be demolished. During this time, more than half a dozen policemen, including some officers, stood there as mute spectators.

Tarun's father, Memraj, gave Newslaundry his account of what happened that night. He claimed, “A 6-7-year-old girl from our family, who was on the second floor, dropped a balloon filled with water. Some of it splashed on our neighbour. She then started shouting, and several members of her family gathered. My younger brother and uncle apologised to her, but she refused and continued shouting. Then, her family members came armed with sticks and iron rods and attacked us. Tarun was not home at the time. When he returned around 11 pm, they caught him outside the street and beat him mercilessly, leading to his death the next day.”

Sumit Kumar Chauhan, the victim’s lawyer, told Newslaundry that 22 individuals were named in the complaint based on those the family could identify.

According to a statement by the Delhi Police, a total of 16 persons, including two minors and three women, have been arrested so far. “Stringent provisions of SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act have already been invoked in the case in addition to relevant sections pertaining to murder,” the statement read.

Chauhan further claimed the accused have also been charged under the POCSO Act for the alleged verbal abuse of a six-year-old girl, who Memraj claimed had dropped a water balloon that triggered the dispute.

While Tarun's family claimed the dispute stemmed from the balloon incident and that there was no prior animosity, some neighbours claimed that there had been prior disputes between the two families.

Resident Irshad Ahmed told Newslaundry that both families are from Rajasthan and are neighbours. Ahmed claimed, “They used to have frequent fights, sometimes over parking and sometimes over garbage. It was a mutual dispute between the two families, but the media and members of some Hindu organisations who visited the area turned it into a Hindu-Muslim conflict.”

Dilshad, who lives on the next street to Tarun's, said that the two families had fights before. “It was a very unfortunate coincidence that the fight occurred on Holi, and Tarun died. After this, it is being portrayed as a Hindu-Muslim issue, whereas the two families had a long-standing rivalry.”

Another resident, Rajendra, said that the two families had fights before, and the matter even reached the police station. He claimed, “Complaints were filed from both sides, and the people in the neighbourhood are aware of these fights.”

To calm the situation, police are collaborating with the local Aman (peace) committee. Jameel Ahmed, a member of the peace committee, told Newslaundry that they are speaking with residents and providing mediation, while simultaneously asking police to take action against the spread of misinformation on YouTube and bar outsiders intent on inciting communal tension.

Watch this ground report.

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