Delhi horror: Man beaten to death on Holi after balloon water splashes woman

NEW DELHI: A 26-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death after a quarrel over a splash of water during Holi spiralled into violence in Delhi's Uttam Nagar.

Police have arrested four people and apprehended a minor. The trouble began, police said, when water from a balloon splashed on a woman amid the festival celebrations.




The deceased has been identified as Tarun, who lived with his family in Uttam Nagar. He was pursuing a digital marketing course, said his family.

DCP (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said two groups, belonging to two different communities, had a fight over the throwing of a water-filled balloon.

The injured were rushed to hospital - three from one side and five from the other side were injured. Both groups originally hail from Rajasthan. We registered a case and arrested four adults and apprehended one juvenile. One of the injured, Tarun Kumar died during treatment. So, we added Sec 103 to the FIR and added murder charges," the DCP said.

Speaking to TOI, Tarun's uncle, Tek Chand, said their relative, an 11-year-old girl, was playing Holi on the terrace when she threw a water balloon at her father standing below. The balloon fell onto the road and splashed water on a woman from the neighbouring family, who, according to Tarun's family, belonged to a different community. "We apologised, but she didn't listen and called her relatives, picking up a fight with us," he said.

Tek Chand claimed the matter was initially settled. About an hour later, Tarun was returning on his bike after playing Holi with a friend. A group of 15-20 people, according to Tek Chand, stopped him and allegedly assaulted him with iron rods, bricks, stones, and other objects. Security in the area has been tightened following the incident.

Two more murders were reported during Holi. In Burari, a man was killed and his friend critically injured during an attack by a group.

The incident reportedly followed a scuffle after a man allegedly used abusive language during a video call. Others objected, leading to a scuffle during which Nepal Ram and his friend, standing nearby, were attacked.

Two men have been arrested, and a minor apprehended. In another incident from Kanjhawal, a 36-year-old cab driver, Vikash Sharma, died after being attacked by two minors after an argument.