New Delhi: The killing of 26-year-old Tarun Kumar in the JJ Colony of Delhi’s Uttam Nagar area, following a dispute between two families on March 4 on the occasion of Holi over a water balloon, has been making headlines across the country. Allegations were levelled against a Muslim family living in the neighbourhood, and subsequently, the matter began to take on a communal colour. Tensions escalated throughout the locality. There were even calls for “bulldozer action” against the property of the accused and for an “encounter” of the accused.Ultimately, on March 8, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) demolished a portion of the accused family’s house, terming it an “encroachment”. However, the accused family maintains that they were not responsible for Tarun’s death.Tarun’s father, Memraj. Photo: Vipul KumarTarun’s father, Memraj, told The Wire Hindi, “The incident occurred on Holi, when a 6-7 year old girl from our family threw a water balloon down from the balcony of our house. Some splashes from it fell upon a Muslim woman who was passing by.”“That woman became extremely angry and created a major ruckus, escalating the situation into a significant dispute,” he added. “We apologised to the woman and explained that it was an innocent mistake on the child’s part, assuring her that we would reprimand the child. However, the woman did not calm down. Instead, she brought along her family members and many others – a group of about 50 to 60 people. They began physically assaulting my family. Following this, we retreated inside the house and bolted the door from the inside.”According to Memraj, his son, Tarun, was out of the house at the time. When Tarun returned home that night, the attackers were still sitting nearby. Memraj alleged, “As soon as Tarun got down from his Bullet motorcycle and started walking toward the house, they attacked him with sticks, clubs and iron pipes, striking him on the head.”Memraj said that as soon as they learned of the incident, they rushed to the injured Tarun and tried to lift him up, but he was unable to rise. Tarun was later taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day, on March 5.The mark on this wall is said to be a handprint left by the injured Tarun. Photo: Shruti SharmaSeveral neighbours living in the vicinity of both Tarun’s family and the accused family told The Wire Hindi that there was a longstanding history of hostility between the two households, and that they had clashed on numerous occasions in the past. However, Memraj refuted these claims.“We had never had a fight before,” he said. “I don’t know what they had intended regarding my child.” Memraj is seeking the severest possible punishment for the accused to ensure that justice is delivered for his son.The deceased, Tarun, was pursuing a design course at an institute located in Dwarka. Memraj recalled, “Tarun often used to tell me that within a year, he’d begin earning money and support me.'”Tarun. Photo: ArrangementSo far, a total of 14 arrests – including three women – have been made in connection with this case, while two minors have also been taken into custody.Accused family says they did not commit murderIn a conversation with The Wire Hindi, Shaheen – a 20-year-old member of the accused’s family – claimed that the killing was inadvertently committed by Tarun’s own family.Shaheen claimed that the women hit by balloons and water is Shaheen’s paternal aunt. “My aunt had stepped out to fetch supplies for Sehri, a ramzan meal, when water was thrown at her,” said Shaheen. “She did not say anything. Yet, as she was on her way back with the supplies, water was thrown at her once again – this time, balloons filled with dirty water were hurled at her. The person who threw the water was a 20-year-old man and not a 5, 6 or 11 year old girl. That is a complete lie.”“As for the matter of Holi colours, we have absolutely no issue with them… After all, our very livelihood revolves around colours. My father, my brother – everyone in our family celebrates Holi.”“When my aunt objected to them dumping dirty water, four people emerged from that house – all of whom were intoxicated – and began misbehaving with her. They touched my aunt inappropriately and hurled filthy insults at her,” Shaheen said.She recounted that when her brother stepped out upon hearing the commotion, members of Tarun’s family members began physically assaulting him.Shaheen said, “Following this, the elders from both households gathered to discuss how to settle the matter. Amid these discussions, Tarun arrived accompanied by a group of 25 to 30 young men. They were all intoxicated and armed with iron rods, hockey sticks and bats. Using these weapons, they struck some members of my family on the head.”According to the police, a total of eight people sustained injuries during the brawl – three from one side and five from the other.“It was not my family members who committed the murder. Tarun’s brother, Arun, being in a drunken state, mistook Tarun for a member of my family and struck him on the back of the head, causing him to collapse on the spot,” she added.Shaheen further asserted that it was her family who called the police to the scene. She stated, “We called them seven or eight times before the police finally arrived. And when they finally did, they detained members of our family. They didn’t say a word to anyone from the other side [Tarun’s family].”Shaheen said that only the female members of the family now remain at home. “The police have locked up all the men of the family. Even those who were not present at the scene have been jailed, though they are entirely innocent.”“My father, my uncle, my brother and my 80-year-old grandfather – who is dependent on medication – have all been arrested,” she said.Shaheen also alleged that her 14-year-old brother was apprehended by the police on March 5, and that they did not know his whereabouts. Advocate Vrinda Grover said that this is a violation of the Juvenile Justice Act, adding, “The parents or guardians have to be notified immediately upon apprehension by the police.”Meanwhile, the Dwarka DCP’s X handle replied to a post asking about the 14 year old’s whereabouts. The post said, “The juvenile accused is one of the main accused who was apprehended and has been sent to an Observation Home by the Juvenile Justice Board. Reports of him being missing are baseless and completely untrue.”Sir, the juvenile accused is one of the main accused who was apprehended and has been sent to Observation Home by the Juvenile Justice Board. The reports of him missing are baseless and completely untrue.— DCP/Dwarka, Delhi (@DCPDwarka) March 11, 2026‘The two families have had altercations in the past’Meanwhile, Kushal Pal Singh, the DCP of Dwarka, stated that the police received information regarding the incident around 11 pm, following which they immediately rushed to the scene. Upon arrival, it was discovered that a clash had taken place between individuals belonging to two different communities.The DCP stated that several individuals from both groups sustained injuries and were admitted to a hospital for treatment. Based on CCTV footage, the police are currently identifying and verifying the identities of those involved in the attack.According to Kushal Pal Singh, both families are originally from Rajasthan and have known each other for nearly 50 years. The DCP noted that both families have been residing at this location since 2004. Prior to this, they lived in a slum settlement where they were neighbours as well.He further explained, “During the investigation, it also came to light that non-communal disputes – primarily concerning parking and other issues – frequently occurred between neighbours. Similar disputes have arisen between these two specific families in the past.”The DCP confirmed that the investigation into the matter is ongoing.Initially, the police registered a case in this matter under Sections 110 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Following Tarun’s death, Section 103(1) – pertaining to murder – was also added to the FIR. Furthermore, following demands from the family, relevant sections under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were also invoked.Incident takes on a communal colourMost of the lanes within JJ Colony are now festooned with saffron flags. Posters have also been put up in several locations, announcing a Hindu conference organised by the ‘Sakal Hindu Samaj’ (United Hindu Society) in Hastsal Colony on January 18.The colony is home to a mixed population of Hindus and Muslims. Some local residents do not view the incident that occurred on March 4 as an act of communal violence. However, subsequent developments appear to be taking a communal turn, with individuals associated with certain right-wing organisations seemingly attempting to sow the seeds of communal tension by leveraging this entire episode.Saffron flags displayed in the locality. Photo: Shruti SharmaIt has been reported that, on the day following the incident, an agitated mob chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ barged into the accuseds’ home in the presence of the police, vandalised the premises and threw household belongings out onto the street. The mob also set fire to a vehicle parked in front of the house.Local residents claim that the mob consisted of members of a Hindutva organisation and said that they had arrived from a different locality.It is alleged that the mob set fire to this vehicle belonging to the accused family. Photo: ArrangementShaheen also alleged that “members of the Bajrang Dal have turned a dispute between two neighbours into a communal conflict”.When asked about the incident of vandalism at the accuseds’ residence, Tarun’s uncle told The Wire Hindi, “We were deeply distraught following the incident; we were in no state to carry out such acts. We do not know who vandalised their home.”When asked whether Tarun’s murder was communally motivated, Memraj offered no definitive response and simply stated, “That is what people are saying.”He further added that, in his view, this was an instance of caste-based violence. He remarked, “They do not want the Khatik people (a Scheduled Caste community) to live here.”Access points into and out of the colony have been blocked off using police barricades. Photo: Shruti SharmaMeanwhile, Lalit Sharma – a member of the Hindu Raksha Dal – stated at a gathering held in Uttam Nagar that this time, they would not allow Muslims to celebrate Eid, even if it meant having to “play Holi with blood”. Sharma declared, “Neither will Eid be celebrated this time, nor will we allow prayers to be offered. Even if we have to play Holi with blood, we will certainly play Holi this Eid.”He added, “The Hindu Raksha Dal has entered the fray; this time, we will set their [the Muslims’] minds straight.”Location: Uttam Nagar, Delhi“This Eid, we will play Holi of blood.”An open call to massacre Muslims in Uttam Nagar on Eid.Lalit Sharma, a member of the Hindu Raksha Dal, said that neither Eid nor namaz would be celebrated this year and talked about playing Holi with blood. pic.twitter.com/XqM70PZCwH— The Muslim (@TheMuslim786) March 9, 2026Earlier, on Sunday, a crowd of right-wing supporters staged a protest near the Uttam Nagar Metro Station demanding justice for Tarun. During the demonstration, slogans such as “Shoot the traitors of the nation!” were raised.Following the incident on March 4, the area has been transformed into a police cantonment. Most entry and exit points, as well as internal routes within the colony, have been sealed off with police barricades. Nearly all shops in the vicinity remain closed.Children playing cricket amidst the police presence. Photo: Vipul KumarThe Hindu residents of the colony had been demanding that bulldozers be used to demolish the homes of the accused. Some among them are also demanding the complete removal of the Muslim population from the area.Bulldozer action at the main accused’s houseFour days after Tarun’s murder, on Sunday (March 8), officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) demolished certain sections of the main accused’s residence.VIDEO | Delhi: MCD demolishes the house of the main accused in the Uttam Nagar holi clash that claimed the life of 26 year old Tarun Kumar.(Full video available on https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/3PcJRrnbBp— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 8, 2026According to a report by The Indian Express, police sources revealed that the “encroached” portion of the three-story building — along with several other allegedly illegal structures in the vicinity — was razed.An MCD official stated, “The demolition drive was carried out because this structure constituted an encroachment upon a drain” and it was necessary to remove it to clean the drain before the monsoon.When asked if notice is required to be served to residents before such action, the official said, “If the construction is unauthorised, notice is given before demolition, but if the case is encroachment, it is not required.”This measure followed Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta’s statement that strict and exemplary action would be taken in this case so that no one would dare to commit such inhuman acts in the future.It is worth noting that in November 2024, the Supreme Court issued a significant directive regarding bulldozer actions. The Supreme Court strongly criticised so-called “bulldozer justice”, stating, “Justice cannot be delivered by bulldozers in any civilized judicial system. This is completely unacceptable under the rule of law.”The court said that six procedures must be completed before demolishing a house or building, including conducting a proper survey, serving written notice and considering objections.Regarding the bulldozer action in Uttam Nagar, senior advocate Sanjay Hegde told The Wire, “This bulldozer action is completely illegal. The Supreme Court’s guidelines exist, but they are not being followed, as the Supreme Court has not yet taken contempt action against anyone for violating them.”Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat approached the Supreme Court in 2022 against the demolition action that followed an incident of communal tension in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area. Regarding the demolition of the accuseds’ homes in the name of encroachment removal in Uttam Nagar, she said, “You are trying to punish without notice in the name of encroachment. You are the police, the judge, and you have also become the punishing agency! You are entirely advancing the BJP’s agenda, rather than upholding the laws of this country and the orders of the Supreme Court.”On the other hand, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Indraprastha Province, has welcomed the proceedings initiated by the Delhi government in this matter.Issuing a press release, the VHP stated, “The commencement of bulldozer operations by the PWD and MCD against the illegal structures belonging to the accused sends a clear message that crime and violence will not be tolerated in Delhi under any circumstances. Such decisive action will instil a fear of the law in the minds of criminals and anti-social elements in the future.”The VHP has also demanded that the process to immediately terminate all forms of government subsidies and benefits extended to the accused involved in this crime be initiated.Translated from the Hindi original by Naushin Rehman.