A tense calm prevailed in the Turkman Gate area near Ramlila Maidan on Thursday as municipal authorities resumed an anti-encroachment demolition drive. The operation follows a night of violent clashes that erupted over rumors of the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque's demolition, leaving five police personnel injured and leading to multiple arrests.
The violence began in the early hours of Wednesday, around 12:40 AM, when a large crowd gathered near the historic mosque after a social media post claimed it was slated for demolition. Police stated the assembly violated prohibitory orders. The gathering quickly turned confrontational, with sections of the crowd hurling stones at police deployed in the area.
"In spite of repeated warnings, the crowd refused to disperse and turned violent. They began raising slogans and pelting stones, injuring five of our personnel," a senior police official said. The police responded by firing tear gas shells to disperse the mob.
An FIR has been registered at the Chandni Mahal Police Station in connection with the incident. So far, five individuals have been arrested. By Thursday, Delhi Police had identified 30 people allegedly involved in the stone-pelting and are conducting raids to apprehend them. Authorities are also scrutinizing over 400 videos from the incident that have surfaced, including new clips circulating on social media.
Official Clarifications and Ongoing Drive
Both police and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials have vehemently denied targeting any religious structure. "The demolition drive is part of a routine anti-encroachment operation. No religious structure is being touched or demolished," clarified a police statement.
MCD Deputy Commissioner Vivek Kumar stated that the drive targeted specific commercial establishments built on public land. "Some commercial establishments, including a diagnostic centre and a banquet hall, were demolished during the drive. No damage was caused to the mosque," Kumar said.
Political Link and Heightened Security
The investigation is taking a political turn. According to Delhi Police sources, a notice will be sent to Mohibullah Nadvi, the Samajwadi Party MP from Rampur, to join the probe. The nature of his alleged connection to the incident has not been detailed by authorities.
Security remains tight in the sensitive area, with a heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces to prevent any further escalation. Barricades have been erected, and the movement of people is being monitored.
The Turkman Gate area, rich with historical significance, has been a flashpoint in Delhi's history, most notably during the Emergency in 1976. The current incident underscores the heightened sensitivities surrounding encroachment drives and religious structures in the capital, where misinformation can quickly lead to public unrest. Authorities are urging citizens to rely only on official communications and not be misled by social media rumors.
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