Cops, locals clash during demolition near Delhi mosque; several injured
What's the story
A pre-dawn demolition drive in Old Delhi's Turkman Gate area turned tense on Wednesday night as miscreants tried to breach barricades and pelted stones at police. The drive, which started around 1:00am near the Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque, was carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to remove unauthorized structures. About 30 bulldozers and 50 dump trucks were deployed for this anti-encroachment action.
Protest response
Police use tear gas to control protest
The drive was carried out under a Delhi High Court order. During the operation, some residents threw stones at the officials, leading to clashes and injuries to five police personnel. The police resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse the protesters and bring the situation under control. Madhur Verma, Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range), said some miscreants threw stones during the drive but "the situation was promptly brought under control with minimal and measured use of force."
Court
MCD's decision taken on high court order
The Delhi HC in November had ordered the removal of encroachments on 38,940 square feet at Ramlila Ground near Turkman Gate. It granted the MCD and PWD three months. In December, the MCD announced that structures beyond 0.195 acres would be demolished due to lack of proof for ownership or lawful possession by the mosque's managing committee or Waqf Board. On January 4, MCD officials visited the site to mark the encroached land but were met with protests from residents.
Legal proceedings
Demolition drive conducted despite court notice
The managing committee of Masjid Syed Elahi then challenged the MCD's decision to remove alleged encroachments from land adjoining the mosque and graveyard at Ramlila Maidan. The encroachments comprised portions of a road, a footpath, a "baraat ghar," a parking area, and a private diagnostic center. The mosque's managing committee stated that it uses the land in question and pays a leasing fee to the waqf board.
Twitter Post
Delhi Police has registered an FIR against unknown persons
#UPDATE | Delhi Police has registered an FIR against unknown persons in connection with the stone-pelting incident at Turkman Gate, where a Delhi Police team was attacked. Approximately 10 people have been detained. The stone-pelters are being identified with the help of CCTV… https://t.co/MlRDSCFvo5
— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2026
Traffic disruption
Traffic advisory issued amid demolition drive
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Ministry of Urban Development, MCD, and Delhi Waqf Board on the plea challenging the order issued to remove the alleged encroachments. The high court stated that the "matter requires consideration" and directed the authorities to file their responses to the plea within four weeks. It scheduled a follow-up hearing for April 22.