New Delhi: Delhi High Court has ordered round-the-clock police protection to the family of a man who is an accused in the Uttam Nagar Holi clash case in which a 26-year-old youth was killed.
It also asked police to file a status report within one week along with some reliable documentary record to show sufficient deployment of police in the area and other steps taken to prevent further violence and listed the matter on Oct 16. Several people, including a minor, were apprehended in connection with the death of 26-year-old Tarun Butolia in a clash between two neighbouring families during Holi celebrations in southwest Delhi’s Uttam Nagar.
Whatever be the legal proceedings pertaining to FIR no. …, the same are against the son of the petitioner and in the same, law will take its course, but the petitioner cannot be left vulnerable and prone to such violence,” Justice Girish Kathpalia said Wednesday while hearing a plea by Shahnaz, mother of one of the accused, seeking a direction to police to provide immediate and adequate protection to her and her family. At least till the situation becomes normal, the local police of police station Uttam Nagar shall ensure continuous round-the-clock deployment of sufficient police personnel in that area, especially in the lane where the house of the petitioner exists,” HC said. The violence started after water from a balloon thrown by a girl from Tarun’s family splashed on a woman from the neighbour’s family, according to police.
“It is indeed a serious situation. Her counsel submitted that for the past two days, some of local residents, including the family members of the person who got killed in the Holi clash, have been attacking her house quite violently, including by throwing stones and bricks. The counsel also showed CCTV footage to the court to support her version. “As depicted in the CCTV footage, house of petitioner is in a narrow lane, so it is not difficult to protect the same by deploying police officials in the lane itself.
HC gave the order after being informed that the house of the accused’s family was being violently attacked by some locals, including the victim’s kin.