Tension escalated in Uttam Nagar as a car and a motorcycle were set on fire, and a massive protest by Hindu political outfits blocked traffic for several hours after thedeath of a 26-year-old youth following a disputethat began during Holi celebrations. Following news of his death, anger spread among local residents and Hindu organizations. On March 5, activists of Bajrang Dal issued an ultimatum to the police, stating that if strict action was not taken against the accused within 24 hours, they would launch a major protest.
With the 24-hour deadline expiring Friday, members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad staged a protest under the Uttam Nagar East metro station, blocking the main road and bringing traffic to a standstill for hours.
Visuals from the spot show a serious situation, with large crowds raising slogans and demanding action. More than 500 protesters are reported to be present outside the local police station. In response, the 200–300 police personnel have been deployed at the location, who have created a protective cordon around the police station to prevent any untoward incident.
"Our teams worked to remove the protesters from the road so vehicular movement could be restored. Several ambulances were also stuck in the traffic," a senior officer told PTI. Meanwhile, amid the prevailing tension in the locality, a car and a motorcycle parked in Uttam Nagar's JJ Colony area were set on fire on Friday afternoon, officials said.
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) said it received a call at 2.02 pm regarding a fire involving two vehicles -- a car and a motorcycle. "Fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and the flames were doused promptly. Police have been informed about the matter," a DFS officer said. Police said no injuries were reported in the fire incident, and an investigation has been initiated to ascertain who set the vehicles ablaze.
The dispute began on the day of Holi when a minor altercation between two families (from different communities) during Holi celebrations on Wednesday. During the clash, Tarun, 26, was seriously injured and later succumbed to his injuries on March 5.
According to police, the incident took place in the JJ Colony when an 11-year-old girl who was playing Holi from the terrace of a house threw a water balloon at her relatives below during Holi celebrations. The balloon fell on the road and burst, splashing coloured water onto a woman from the other family. According to Tarun's grandfather Maan Singh, who also sustained injuries in the clash, the woman began hurling abuses and picked a fight over the splash of colour.
He alleged that she later gathered several members of her family and community who attacked their family members while they were playing Holi. Singh further claimed that although the matter appeared to have subsided initially, members of the other family later gathered and attacked Tarun when he was returning home. Tarun suffered serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital, where he later died during treatment.
Tarun's uncle Ramesh alleged that his nephew had no idea about the earlier dispute. "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 alleged.
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