Residents of Delhi’s Uttam Nagar, the site of communal tension recently, observed Eid ul-Fitr with subdued spirits amid a heavy police presence on Saturday.
The usual festive buzz is missing in the area this time, ground reports said, pointing to the lingering gloom of the place in the wake of the communal clash on Holi.
Heavy police presence in Uttam Nagar
Police presence in the area was beefed up on Friday after the Delhi High Court directed the Delhi Police to take adequate measures to prevent any violence on Eid and ordered security measures to be maintained till the Ram Navami festival.
The PTI news agency on Saturday reported heavy deployment of Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel in the area across Hastal village and adjoining localities, with barricades erected and security personnel conducting strict identity checks at entry and exit points.
Only residents of the area are allowed to enter certain sections, PTI reported, adding that the movement of foreigners in the area has been restricted.
Foot patrols are also carried out by the police, while security personnel monitor rooftops and narrow alleys in particularly sensitive pockets via CCTV cameras.
“Security arrangements have been beefed up to ensure that the festival goes off peacefully. We are keeping a close eye on the whole development,” a senior police officer was quoted as saying by PTI.
Additional forces are on standby if needed, the officer added.
Communal tension in Uttam Nagar
Communal tension erupted in Uttam Nagar earlier this month after 26-year-old Tarun Kumar died after sustaining injuries in a clash between two neighboring families in JJ Colony.
The incident took place on Holi, March 4, when an 11-year-old girl threw a water balloon from her terrace, which hit a Muslim woman and sparked an argument between the two families.
The disagreement soon escalated into a brawl that left at least eight people injured.
Among them was Tarun Kumar, who succumbed to his injuries a few days later. Subsequently, an FIR was registered in the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Since the Holi incident, the police have so far arrested 14 people and detained two minors in connection with the alleged murder of the 26-year-old. All those arrested or detained are relatives of a Muslim family, the Hindustan Times reported, and inflammatory posts on social media have kept tensions high.
