Muslims in West Delhi's Uttam Nagar offered their Eid-ul-Fitr prayers on Saturday under the watchful eye of a heavy security detail. The atmosphere remained notably subdued, coming just over a fortnight after a local dispute escalated into a fatal clash that left the area on edge.
To avoid any kind of unrest, a large number of Delhi Police personnel and paramilitary forces have been deployed at various points in Hastsal village and its lanes. Barricades have been put up at important points, and identification checks are being conducted. Access is restricted to a few areas for local residents only. Alongside regular foot patrols, the authorities have been monitoring rooftops and narrow alleys via CCTV to ensure the day passed without incident.
Kushal Pal Singh, the Deputy Commissioner of Police for Dwarka, confirmed that the situation remained calm. He noted that the prayers were conducted without disturbance and urged the public to disregard inflammatory rumours circulating on social media. While the security presence was undeniable, many residents expressed a desire to maintain the area’s long-standing communal harmony.
One local, Parvez, remarked that despite the heavy policing, the spirit of the festival remained. He spoke fondly of his neighbour, Tarun — the 26-year-old victim of the 4 March violence — describing him as being like a brother. He noted that while the tragedy was deeply felt, the actual tension on the ground was perhaps less severe than portrayed online, adding that he still expected Hindu friends to join in the celebrations.
However, others, such as Mohammad Naveen, admitted that the environment felt strained. He further suggested that the effect of the outside interference and the sheer number of police officers deployed was that the celebrations could not feel entirely normal, but he praised the police for ensuring that the safety of all was a priority. The president of the Uttam Nagar Jama Masjid, Khalid Ali, reinforced these sentiments in that while the fear was previously instigated from the outside, the security measures had ensured that all the mosques in the area were able to celebrate the day in peace.
The root of the current tension can be traced back to Holi, when a minor scuffle between two families regarding a water balloon in a JJ Colony turned ugly. The scuffle between the two families resulted in the death of Tarun, leading to protests where people burned vehicles. The police have since arrested many people and have been actively detaining people who are trying to incite violence through their provocative slogans.
Also read: Muslims plan to leave Uttam Nagar for Eid over ‘threats’
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