Uttam Nagar Holi Violence: Delhi High Court Grants Police Protection To Deceased's Family
The Delhi High Court has ordered police protection for the family members of 27-year old Tarun Butolia, who died in a violent clash during Holi celebrations at Uttam Nagar this year.
Justice Girish Kathpalia requested the Additional DCP to direct the concerned SHO to provide his personal mobile phone number to the family so that they may contact him at the time of distress.
The Court was dealing with the family's plea seeking providing adequate police protection as citing grave threat to their lives and liberty. They also sought removal of allegedly threatening, inflammatory and communally provocative videos pertaining to the incident from all social media platforms.
The Police told Court that that the local police was already active and shall ensure best possible protection to the family. The Additional DCP explained that in the lane of residence of the family as well as in the surrounding blocks, CCTV cameras were installed and police pickets were created to ensure communal harmony.
On this, the Court said:
“…., the Additional DCP is requested to direct the concerned SHO to provide his personal mobile phone number to the petitioners so that they may contact him at the time of distress.”
The Additional DCP also informed that they had already pulled down more than 250 inflammatory videos and contents from social media platforms.
The Court directed the family members to furnish specific particulars of the videos or content, if any, to the local SHO, who has been directed to forthwith take appropriate action in accordance with law.
“In view of above directions, learned Senior Counsel for petitioners, on instructions, submits that they are satisfied so far as this petition is concerned and the petition be accordingly disposed of,” the Court said.
On March 04, a 26-year-old man named Tarun was killed in a clash that broke out between his family and neighbours in the JJ Colony.
According to the Delhi Police, 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 during Holi celebrations.
Counsel for Petitioners: Mr. Pramod Kumar Dubey, Senior Advocate with Mr. Anirudh Gupta, Mr. Ashish Gupta, Mr. Satyam Sharma and Mr. Ram Chand, Advocates
Counsel for Respondents: Mr. Sanjeev Bhandari, ASC with Mr. Arjit Sharma and Ms. Sakshi Jha, Advocates, along with Addl DCP Ms. Niharika Bhatt, Dwarka
Title: LAXMI DEVI AND ORS v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS