Meer Faisal & Shazeen Khan
The killing of a young man in a Holi-eve conflict in Uttam Nagar, Delhi, sparked protests that were followed by heavy police deployment and a subsequent demolition carried out by civic authorities. While the police investigation has led to multiple arrests, members of the accused family claim they have been falsely implicated and allege bias in the investigation.
In a telephonic interview with The Observer Post, Shahin Rangrez Chouhan, whose family members are among those accused in the murder of 23-year-old Tarun, denied the allegations and presented a different version of events.
Her account presents a sharply different version of the Holi-eve clash, one in which she claims her family members were first attacked by a large group armed with sticks and iron rods and later blamed for Tarun’s death.
“They are saying that we killed him, but that is absolutely not the case. We didn’t have a single weapon to kill him with. We didn’t have any weapons at all,” Shahin said.
Clash on Holi Evening
According to Shahin, the confrontation began with what initially appeared to be a minor altercation involving water balloons on the evening of Holi.
“This whole incident happened on the day of Holi, March 4, around 7:30 pm,” she said. “My aunt had stepped out to arrange our sehri meals. While she was passing through the lane, someone threw water on her, but she ignored it. However, on her way back home, the same boy—identified as Prince, around 20 years old—threw a balloon filled with dirty water at her and started arguing with her.”
Shahin alleged that the situation quickly escalated when four young men present at the spot, who appeared to be intoxicated according to her account, began inappropriately touching her aunt.
“Hearing the commotion, my brother came out of the house immediately to intervene,” she said.
She further claimed that the confrontation turned violent soon after.
“As soon as my brother stepped in, they began attacking him. After some time, our elders reached the spot, and discussions were underway to resolve the matter but suddenly, a man named Tarun arrived from behind carrying a stick, along with around 20–25 people. They were carrying iron rods and other weapons,” she alleged.
Shahin added that she did not know who called Tarun to the spot, claiming he had no connection to the said incident.
Shahin’s Claim: “Tarun Was Hit By His Own Side”
Shahin alleges that several members of her family were severely assaulted.
“They hit my father, my uncle and my brother on their heads so badly that they fell unconscious,” she said.
However, according to Shahin, Tarun’s fatal injury occurred during the chaos and was caused by someone from his own group.
“It was one of his group members, Arun, who struck Tarun, mistaking him for my uncle because everyone was drunk. The blow was so strong that Tarun collapsed,” she claimed.
Prior Tensions Between Neighbours
Shahin also alleged that Tarun had previously threatened members of her family.
“Fifteen or twenty days before Holi, he warned us, saying he would ‘see us’ on Holi eve. Sometimes he would threaten our children or set his dogs on them,” she said.
She further alleged that Tarun was associated with the Bajrang Dal, which she claimed emboldened him and gave him a sense of power.
A review of social media profiles linked to Tarun Kumar shows an active Instagram account under the handle @tarunbutolia, with over 5,000 followers. In the bio, he identifies himself as a “Sanatani” and a “gym lover,” alongside informal phrases such as “Train like a beast” and “cheat on your girlfriend.” Any claims regarding his alleged association with the Bajrang Dal could not be independently verified at the time of publication.
Police, however, have described the clash as part of a long-standing neighbourhood dispute between families who have lived in the area for decades. According to Delhi Police statements cited in a report by The Hindu, tensions between the two families date back several years despite periods of reconciliation.
Police Response and Arrests
Shahin alleged that police failed to intervene promptly despite repeated calls.
“We called the police many times. They came only after seven or eight calls, and even then, they didn’t listen to us,” she said.
She further claimed that injured members of her family were detained without proper medical treatment.
“Their hands were broken, they had head injuries, their ribs were hurt, and bleeding wouldn’t stop. Still, they were locked up in jail without treatment,” she alleged.
Reports from other media outlets indicate that police arrested multiple individuals following the clash. According to The Indian Express, the death of Tarun triggered protests in the locality and invited bulldozer action in the area.
Protests and Security Deployment
Following the incident, unrest spread across parts of Uttam Nagar as Bajrang Dal & Vishwa Hindu Parisad groups gathered, demanding bulldozer action on Muslim’s side.
According to Maktoob Media, several vehicles were set ablaze and roads were blocked during protests after news of Tarun’s death spread through the neighbourhood.
Security forces, including the Rapid Action Force, were deployed to control the situation and maintain law and order, reported The Wire.
Shahin’s Family Left With Nothing
The situation drew further attention after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi demolished the house of one of the alleged Muslim accused in the case.
Shahin claimed the demolition left her family displaced and without access to essential belongings.
“They demolished our house without any court order. All our documents, money and belongings were inside. We had nothing with us when we had to leave,” she said.
She further alleged that police personnel were present during the destruction of property.
“If the police wanted, they could have stopped them. Instead, they were helping them,” she alleged.
Family Demands Fair Investigation
While police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Tarun’s death, Shahin maintains that her family has been unfairly targeted.
“People who were not even present have been arrested and put in jail. A complete false accusation has been made against us,” she said.
Authorities have yet to publicly respond to these specific allegations.
For Shahin and her relatives, however, the aftermath has extended far beyond a criminal investigation.
She says the demolition of their home left the family displaced, without documents, savings, or basic belongings in the holy month of Ramadan.
“They destroyed our house without any court order,” she said. “Everything — our money, documents, jewellery for a wedding in the family — was buried under the debris. We are left with nothing.”
Across India, the use of bulldozers against the homes of individuals accused in criminal cases has drawn growing scrutiny from legal experts, who argue that such actions often bypass due process and amount to collective punishment.
As the investigation into Tarun’s death continues, Shahin says her family is still waiting for what she calls the most basic assurance from authorities — that their version of events will be heard.
“We are the ones who were injured. Our people are in jail without treatment,” she said. “All we want is a fair investigation.”
