A court-ordered demolition drive in Old Delhi descended into violence in the early hours of Wednesday after resistance from a section of locals led to clashes with the police. The operation, carried out near the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque in the Turkman Gate area, resulted in injuries to police personnel and the registration of a First Information Report.
The demolition exercise, undertaken by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), began shortly after 1 am following a directive from the Delhi High Court to remove illegal encroachments from land adjoining the mosque and a nearby graveyard. Authorities deployed around 30 bulldozers along with a heavy police presence to enforce the order.
Tensions rose when stones were allegedly thrown at police officers and civic officials overseeing the clearance. At least five police personnel sustained minor injuries during the confrontation. Tear gas was used to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control, officials said.
A senior police officer confirmed that an FIR has been lodged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Five individuals have been detained for questioning in connection with the violence, and further action may follow as the investigation progresses.
The Delhi government described the violence as unacceptable, reiterating that obstruction of lawful civic action would not be tolerated. Officials stressed that the demolition targeted only illegal commercial structures and that the mosque itself was not affected during the operation.
Residents in the area offered differing accounts of the incident. While some claimed the action was sudden and caused panic, others said normalcy was restored swiftly. One detained individual later stated that he had been in the area for personal reasons and was unaware of the demolition drive underway.
The High Court had earlier directed civic agencies to clear nearly 38,940 square feet of encroached land at Ramlila Ground near Turkman Gate within a stipulated timeframe. Following the order, the MCD issued notices identifying structures beyond a designated plot as unauthorised occupations of public land.
Despite prior coordination with local representatives and peace committees, the pre-dawn operation triggered unrest. Police are now examining CCTV footage and other evidence to determine whether the stone pelting was spontaneous or part of a planned disruption.
Security arrangements remain in place in the locality, with additional police deployment and monitoring to prevent further disturbances. Authorities have indicated that the anti-encroachment drive will continue in accordance with legal directions.
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