'When they are shot, I will be at peace': Delhi Uttam Nagar murder victim's mother demands justice

NEW DELHI: The mother of a 26-year-old man killed during a clash between neighbours in west Delhi has demanded strict action against the accused, saying the family has not been informed about arrests made in the case.

Tarun was killed in Delhi’s Uttam Nagar area after a dispute between neighbours from different communities during Holi celebrations on 4 March escalated into violence, according to police.




Speaking to reporters, his mother said the family had not received any update from authorities.

"Nothing has been heard yet on our appeal. When they are shot, I will be at peace. I want the same thing to happen to them as the Yogi government does to criminals... My son has left this world. May no one else's son leave. They say 16 people have been arrested, but they haven't even shown us who they are," she said.

According to her, the dispute began over a water balloon thrown by a child.

"Because of just a drop of water, my son has been killed... The beginning of everything was that my 7-year-old niece was standing on the second floor, and I was standing just below my house. She was playing. A 7-year-old girl doesn't know what colour is. From her hand, the balloon fell down. A few drops of water fell on that lady named Saira. Upon this, Saira started threatening her, saying that I will get you raped by my family members. I asked her, how can you say this about a girl?" she alleged.

She said the situation escalated quickly after the woman allegedly called several people to the spot.

"In such a short time, she called 20-25 people. Some of them are women, and some of them are men... Tarun didn't know anything. It happened at night. She called her men," she said.

The mother also alleged she was assaulted during the incident.

"A lady named Salima hit me with a rod on the face. Some men tore my blouse. They hit my brother-in-law, husband, son, and my brother-in-law's son. They said they will finish Khatiks today," she alleged.

She also expressed disappointment that no Dalit leader had visited the family after the incident.

"Still, no Dalit leader has come to me... I want justice for my son. If the Yogi government does it, why can't Rekha Gupta do it?... She hasn't even come to meet us yet. Our daughter went to meet her," she said.

Tarun’s father also demanded strict punishment for those responsible and thanked people protesting for justice.

"I would like to say to the people of the country that the way everyone is protesting for Tarun, we are thankful to everyone. We are doing all this to get justice for Tarun. All the criminals should be punished severely," he said.

He said the family had no previous dispute with the accused but claimed tensions had built up earlier over their treatment of stray dogs.

"We didn't have a fight with them (attackers' family)... but sometimes, they threw water and acid at the street dogs. Sometimes they used to hit them with sticks and stones. Our kids used to scold them for hitting dogs. Slowly, we started feeling that they had made Tarun their target because of this. A balloon fell from the girl. She is our family's daughter. The balloon fell near her (the lady from the attackers' family) feet. It didn't fall on her. Still, she started screaming. Many people came to her," he said.

He also alleged that the attackers vandalised their house before police arrived.

"They came with sticks and stones. They started beating us. Then we went inside the house. They were kicking the gate. They broke the windows of our house. The police came after an hour of the fight. The administration is doing its job. We ask the administration to hang the accused or get them murdered in an encounter. We ask the administration to break their whole house," he said.

Police officials say the incident occurred after a dispute over a balloon during Holi celebrations escalated into a violent altercation. Tarun was allegedly assaulted during the clash and later died from his injuries.