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On March 4, 2026, at Uttam Nagar JJ Colony, Delhi, a group of neighbors severely beat to death 26-year-old Tarun Kumar, who had lost a quarrel over a water balloon on the night before the yearly Holi celebration. A family member and police narrated that the young girl, 11 years old, belonging to a Hindu family in Tarun, accidentally sprayed water over a Muslim lady in the nearby house, and this sparked an argument that erupted into violence around 10.30 pm.

Tarun, who was training to study digital marketing to serve his family, was said to have been tempted out or ambushed later that evening and beaten up with iron rods, sticks, bricks, and stones—suffering serious head injuries and a broken skull. Later that morning (March 5), he gave in. Eight individuals, including a minor, are arrested, and murder charges along with various sections of SC/ST Act cases have been invoked.

The event gave rise to community conflicts: demonstrators burned cars, ruined houses, and demanded justice, which resulted in the deployment of Delhi Police and RAF. MCD destroyed some unauthorized parts of an alleged house on March 8 in the presence of high security guards. The family of Tarun wants a CBI investigation to be conducted, stating that there are still more offenders at large and that police authorities focus on arresting the offenders in order to restore peace.