Vehicles torched, roads blocked as protests erupt in Delhi’s Uttam Nagar after man beaten to death on Holi

A Holi celebration in southwest Delhi’s Uttam Nagar turned tragic when a dispute between neighbours escalated into violence, leaving 26-year-old Tarun Kumar dead.

While the family is still mourning the loss, the area witnessed large protests on Friday as members of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad blocked traffic for several hours, according to a report by Press Trust of India. During the protests, a car and a motorcycle were allegedly set on fire.

Protesters gathered under the Uttam Nagar East Metro Station, demanding strict action against those responsible for Tarun’s death, police said.

Dispute over Holi balloon turned deadly

The clash reportedly began during Holi celebrations on Wednesday in the JJ Colony area. According to police, an 11-year-old girl was throwing water balloons from the terrace of a house when coloured water from one balloon splashed onto a woman passing by.

The woman objected, leading to a verbal argument that quickly escalated into a physical clash between members of the two families. Several people on both sides were injured. Tarun suffered serious injuries and later died in hospital during treatment.

What the family said

Tarun’s grandfather, Maan Singh, said the woman began abusing family members after colour splashed on her and allegedly gathered others before the confrontation intensified. Singh himself was among those injured in the incident.

Tarun’s uncle, Ramesh, said the victim was unaware of the dispute when he returned home.

“The moment he entered the street, eight to ten people attacked him with sticks, rods and stones. He had no idea about the fight, but they beat him so badly that he died during treatment,” he said.

Protest and police action

Angered by the death, Tarun’s family members and local residents staged protests outside the police station in Uttam Nagar, demanding arrests in the case. Protesters gathered in large numbers and surrounded the police station for several hours on Thursday and Friday, police sources said.

According to Kushal Pal Singh, police have arrested four people and apprehended one juvenile so far.

“We got to know that the fight stemmed from throwing balloons. We have registered an FIR, arrested four and apprehended one juvenile. Further investigation is underway,” he said.

Police said they are examining CCTV footage and recording witness statements to establish the sequence of events. Security has been tightened in the area, with additional personnel deployed until the situation returns to normal.

Several protesters also blocked roads in the busy locality, leading to long traffic queues on both sides as demonstrations continued for hours.