Delhi Holi killing: Families in Uttam Nagar plan to move out for Eid amid tensions; police assure safety

• Muslim families in Hastsal, Delhi prepare to leave before Eid
• Communal tensions persist after Holi altercation and murder
• Police ensure safety, delete provocative social media content

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Several Muslim families in Uttam Nagar's Hastsal village in west Delhi are quietly preparing to leave their homes ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr this weekend, unnerved by a fortnight of communal tension, threats and daily protests that have followed the murder of a 26-year-old man during a Holi altercation involving families from two communities, according to an HT report.

The trouble began on March 4, when an 11-year-old girl threw a water balloon that struck a Muslim woman, sparking an altercation. Tarun Kumar, 26, succumbed to his injuries four days later. Delhi Police have since arrested 14 persons and apprehended two minors in connection with the case.

Yet nearly a fortnight on, tensions between the two communities continue to simmer, with provocative speeches, protests and threatening social media posts having become a near-daily feature of life in the locality, according to residents.

Jameel Ahmad, 55, the owner of Miya Ji restaurant, was cited by HT as saying that his family has lived in Uttam Nagar for more than 50 years and has three children and seven grandchildren. He said they were living in fear after hearing leaders publicly speak of playing "Khoon Ki Holi" and that the family had no other place to go.

Ahmad added that the murder was not a communal matter and that the two families involved had always had a troubled history with each other. He expressed concern that the wider community would be made to pay for the mistakes of the accused and noted that two families renting homes near his had already left.

Farzana, 22, a resident who goes by a single name, said she had lived in the area for more than two decades. While she said she did not wish to leave, she felt she could not stay given the daily threats of violence and attacks, HT quoted her as saying. She said her neighbours were no longer speaking to her family as they normally would and that Eid held special significance she did not want to spend in an atmosphere of fear. Her plan, she said, was to be away for only a few days.

Bilal Rajput, 47, an advocate whose family has been in the area since the 1970s, said his own neighbour — a Hindu man the family had known for more than 50 years — had told him that two of his tenants had departed and urged Rajput to stay safe, saying he too was living in fear, the report added.

Rajput reportedly said protests were taking place outside the metro station, in parks and other public spaces, with barricades set up throughout the area. While his own family had not decided to leave, he acknowledged the problems could not be denied.

The Delhi Police maintained that they have made adequate arrangements and have held peace meetings with both communities. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), Kushal Pal Singh, appealed to residents to remain in the area and assured them of safety for the festival. The report quoted him as saying that police had sent more than 22 requests to X and Instagram to take down provocative speeches and videos and that Meta had already removed a significant amount of content.

DCP Singh added that the police were also contacting the creators directly and found that almost all of them were from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states, with no local resident involved. Police also maintained that none of the residents they had spoken to indicated plans to leave.