A midnight demolition drive by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) near the historic Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque at Turkman Gate escalated into violence early Wednesday, leaving five police personnel injured and resulting in at least ten detentions. The incident has reignited tensions over encroachment disputes in the densely populated Walled City area.
The operation, described by officials as a move to clear illegal structures from government land, commenced around midnight. Nearly 30 bulldozers rolled into the vicinity and began pulling down a baraat ghar (wedding hall) and a diagnostic centre adjacent to the mosque.
Stone-Pelting and Tear Gas Shells
The unexpected late-night action quickly met with resistance. According to police, a group of individuals began pelting stones at the demolition teams and security personnel. Among the injured was Mahavir Prasad, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Chandni Mahal police station, who sustained serious injuries.
To disperse the crowd and regain control, police resorted to firing tear gas shells. The area, plunged into chaos, was transformed into a high-security zone with a heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces through the night.
"Situation Controlled with Minimum Force": Police
Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range) Madhur Verma stated that miscreants attempted to create disturbance during the demolition. "The situation was immediately controlled with the minimum use of force, ensuring that normalcy was restored without escalation," he said.
Verma emphasised that prior to the drive, several coordination meetings were held with the Aman Committee and local stakeholders to maintain peace. "All possible preventive and confidence-building measures were undertaken," he added, noting that police maintained a tight vigil to allow the demolition to continue as scheduled.
The Heart of the Dispute
The core of the conflict lies in the legal status of the demolished structures. Civic authorities maintain that the baraat ghar and diagnostic centre were illegal encroachments built on government land and that the action was executed strictly in compliance with court orders and due procedure.
However, the committee managing the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque has contested this claim. They argue that the structures are over a century old and form an integral part of the mosque complex, raising questions about the historical and legal assessment of the site.
Investigation Underway
Delhi Police has initiated a thorough investigation into the violence. Officials confirmed that personnel equipped with body cameras were present during the incident. The footage from these cameras, along with recordings from CCTV cameras installed in the area, will be used to identify and trace all those responsible for the stone-pelting.
The Turkman Gate area, a site of a major historical demolition and confrontation in the 1970s, remained on edge throughout the day, with a palpable police presence. The incident underscores the recurring challenges faced in balancing urban enforcement drives with community sensitivities in Delhi's historic neighbourhoods.
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