Anti encroachment drive near mosque in Delhi turns violent

An anti-encroachment drive near a mosque in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan area turned violent early Wednesday after a section of the crowd allegedly resorted to stone-pelting, leaving at least five police personnel injured, officials said. Police used teargas shells to disperse the crowd and restore normalcy.The clashes broke out when officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) were carrying out a demolition drive on land adjoining the Syed Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque and a nearby graveyard at Turkman Gate, following directions of the Delhi High Court. The mosque was not damaged during the operation, an MCD official said, according to information.In a statement, the Delhi Police said teargas shells were used after some people allegedly resorted to stone-pelting, triggering chaos at the site. The situation was brought under control shortly thereafter with measured force.

#WATCH | Delhi | Morning visuals from the area near Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid, Turkman Gate, where MCD, pursuant to the directions of the Delhi High Court, carried out a demolition drive on an encroachment yesterday. pic.twitter.com/NihxNZgnAn

— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2026

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan said the MCD had scheduled the demolition for the intervening night of January 6 and 7, following which police personnel were mobilised and deployed at the site. “Around 100–150 people gathered when the MCD machinery, including earthmovers, was about to arrive. Most people dispersed after being persuaded, but some tried to create a ruckus and resorted to stone-pelting, in which five policemen sustained minor injuries and were given medical treatment,” he said.
“We had to use teargas to disperse the crowd,” the DCP added, noting that legal action will be initiated after medical reports and statements are recorded. He said CCTV camera footage is being analysed to identify those involved.The officer said a banquet hall and a dispensary near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque, which were declared encroachments by the court, were being demolished during the drive.
MCD Deputy Commissioner Vivek Kumar said the demolition was carried out in compliance with a High Court order, during which around 36,000 square feet of encroached area was cleared. The cleared structures included a diagnostic centre, a marriage hall, and two two-storey boundary walls, he said, adding that the demolition continued through the night.Kumar said debris sufficient to fill around 200 to 250 vehicles was still lying at the site and would be removed as part of the ongoing clean-up operation. He reiterated that no damage was caused to the mosque during the drive.The police said the MCD, the land-owning agency, had informed them in advance about the proposed demolition and sought deployment of force to maintain law and order. The DCP said police also contacted local residents beforehand to inform them that the demolition was a legal action, adding that authorities took people of the area into confidence and received considerable cooperation from locals.