PUDR strongly condemns the MCD’s demolition of parts of a property belonging to a Muslim owner-accused on April 30, 2026, in Uttam Nagar’s JJ Colony. The owner is an accused in the killing of Tarun Bhutolia and is currently in judicial custody. Importantly, the demolition drive happened overnight, after the MCD Tribunal dismissed the owner’s interim application following the High Court’s two-weeks’ stay on the matter. The bulldozer action is a repeat of the MCD’s targeted demolition of March 8, 2026, when parts of a building belonging to another Muslim owner-accused, also in judicial custody in the same case, were demolished on the grounds of encroachment.
The clashes on Holi night leading to the death of 26-year-old Tarun in Uttam Nagar on March 5, 2026, began over a petty matter between longtime residents, Muslims and Dalits. While the alleged murder is being investigated by the police, PUDR’s fact-finding shows how deliberate actions and inactions of state agencies have ensured the communalization of the death and its aftermath as the matter of law and order has been monopolized by vested interests in the locality against the families of the accused.
Because of the concerted political efforts at highlighting the death as an instance of communal killing, the police have arrested 20 Muslim residents, including three women and two juveniles. All continue to remain in judicial custody. Following the incident, an elderly Muslim resident, Babu Khan, was illegally detained for eight days and threatened and intimidated by the police at the time of release. PUDR has learnt from the police that it is yet to act on the written complaint filed by Khan to the DCP Dwarka. The police’s inaction over Babu Khan’s complaint regarding facts of the clashes on Holi night and his illegal detention raise serious questions about the lack of fair investigations and due procedures.
Following the incident, the families of the accused were forced to flee their homes. Shortly after, some of the vacant premises were looted and vandalized by miscreants, demolished by the MCD and notified by the NGT for violating pollution norms. The civic actions by the MCD and NGT have been carried out solely on properties belonging to Muslim owner-accused.
Recently, based on the complaint made by the deceased’s family, the Delhi High Court, on April 24, 2026, ordered the police to ensure their safety and security. Consequently, as per information received from families of the accused, the police have refrained from intervening in the growing and orchestrated communal outrage demonstrated by residents over the attempted return of Muslim families, mainly women and children. Because of the partisan nature of the police vigil, these families have not received police protection from the ongoing communal harassment.
Today, because of arrests and inactions by the police, motivated civic actions, and judicial interventions, the locality has been communalized. Public punishments are being meted out to the families of the accused through bulldozer actions, sealing of homes, and threats and abuses by fellow residents. Because of communal harassment and ostracism, a significant number of Muslim family members of the accused have not been able to return to their homes. Women and children belonging to these families are being communally targeted, stigmatized and harassed from reclaiming their lives and livelihood.
PUDR strongly condemns the role of the state agencies in communalizing the incident of death and its aftermath. PUDR also condemns the role of communal organizations which have ensured the stigmatization and ostracism of Muslims residents at the hands of their Dalit neighbours.
PUDR demands
- An immediate end to communal demolitions of the homes of the accused.
- That the police investigate Babu Khan’s complaint and follow due procedures.
- That the police ensure safety to the families of the accused.
Deepika Tandon and Shahana Bhattacharya
Secretaries, PUDR
