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........

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