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Bulldozer action at house of Uttam Nagar murder case accused, parts of 3-storey building razed
Police sources say action taken against 'encroached' portion of the three-storey house and a few other 'illegal' structures
During the action, a large police force, along with paramilitary personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), was deployed throughout the locality. (Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
Four days after 26-year-old Tarun Kumar was beaten to death on the day of Holi in West Delhi’s Uttam Nagar, civic authorities Sunday demolished parts of a house belonging to the main accused.
Police sources said that the “encroached” portion of the three-storey house and a few other allegedly illegal structures nearby were razed. The house belongs to Umardeen (49) and his son Muzaffar (25), officers said.
Six people were earlier arrested and a juvenile apprehended. On Sunday, the Delhi Police nabbed the eighth accused, identified as Imran (38), officers said.
While political outfits had demanded strict punishment for the accused, who belong to a minority community, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had assured “strict and exemplary action”.
“The demolition was carried out as the structure was an encroachment on a drain. Its removal was necessary for desilting of the drain ahead of monsoon,” a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official said.
Asked if a prior notice was required to be served to the residents before such actions, the official said, “If the structure is unauthorised, a notice is served before carrying out a demolition, but in case of encroachment, it is not required.” According to officials, encroachment means erection or setting-up of a structure, permanent or temporary, which poses as an obstruction. Unauthorised construction, they said, is a structure, for which a plan was not passed by the civic body.
Sunita, Tarun’s mother, on Sunday demanded action. Tarun’s brother Arun told The Indian Express: “We are not satisfied with the way the probe is being carried out.”
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There was heavy police and paramilitary deployment in the JJ colony on Hatsal Road on Sunday, with most entrances and exits blocked and almost all shops in the area shut.
Outside Tarun’s house, around 10 women sat on a carpet. “Our Tarun was not killed, he was martyred. We want justice for him,” Tarun’s aunt Babli told Uttar Pradesh minister Dinesh Khatiq on Sunday.
The victim’s family wants all the houses of the accused demolished. “The family came here around 40 years ago and started a school. They own many houses here,” said 61-year old Rajeshwar Singh.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said: “The drive went on for a few hours. If they (MCD) ask, we will assist them tomorrow as well,” he said.
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Officers said police and paramilitary personnel will be deployed in the area for a few more days.
On Wednesday night, Tarun had gone out to celebrate Holi with friends. A few hours later, according to police and his family, he was brutally beaten up with rods near the corner of his lane after unknowingly walking into a dispute that had erupted earlier between his family and neighbours. He died during treatment the next day.
Since then, tension in the locality has remained palpable. Families of the accused, as well as a few others have left their houses.
On Friday night, vehicles parked outside the accused’s residence were allegedly set on fire. Police said they are probing the incident.
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