Eight more held for Uttam Nagar murder
New Delhi, March 10 -- Delhi Police on Monday arrested seven more individuals and apprehended another minor in connection with the killing of 26-year-old Tarun Kumar during clashes between two families from different communities over a water balloon thrown during Holi celebrations in Uttam Nagar's Hastsal Colony, officials said.
With Monday's action, a total of 14 people have been arrested and two minors apprehended in the case.
The incident took place on March 4 and by Sunday, police had arrested seven persons and apprehended one minor.
DCP (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said all accused have been booked under murder charges and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act.
On Sunday, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi bulldozed a portion of a four-storey building belonging to one of the accused, removing illegally constructed portions, officials said.
Monday's arrests included three women - Sayra Kali (40), Sarifan Gaffad (50), and Salma (36) - along with Suhail Imamuddheen (21), Sameer Chauhan (20), Firoz Gaffar (22), and Ismail Khan (50). A 14-year-old minor was also apprehended.
Communal tension, meanwhile, persisted in the area Monday as protesters led by a Hindu right-wing organisation gathered, shouting slogans against Muslims. A circulating video shows Lalit Sharma, a self-proclaimed member of Hindu Raksha Dal, issuing threats. "There will be no Eid or any namaz here. We won't allow them to pray. We will play Holi on Eid this time. We will play Holi with blood this year," he said.
DCP Singh said police are verifying the video.
Police confirmed protesters broke into the accused's house, stole valuables, set furniture on fire, and torched two vehicles - a car and motorcycle - belonging to the family.
The accused family alleged the fight began over sexual assault, not a water balloon. Shaheen, a family member, claimed, "They (Tarun's family) were all drunk and it was not an 11-year-old who threw a balloon. It was a 20-year-old man. Also, they sexually assaulted my aunt and harassed her in the middle of the street."
She alleged family members suffered head injuries but police are not listening. "Why did they take women from our house? What did they do? It was men who were fighting."
The family of the accused said that they have vacated their house due to continuous threats.
Another member alleged the demolition destroyed their home, with valuables stolen and burned in front of police....
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