Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 7: At least five police personnel sustained minor injuries after an anti-encroachment drive near a mosque and graveyard at Turkman Gate, close to Ramlila Maidan, turned violent in the early hours of Wednesday.

The incident occurred when around 300 officials and workers of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), backed by police force, launched a demolition drive on land adjoining the Syed Faiz Elahi mosque, following directions issued by the Delhi High Court.

According to police, a group of nearly 25–30 people allegedly resorted to stone-pelting at the teams engaged in the drive. “Five policemen suffered minor injuries. Tear gas shells were used to bring the situation under control,” senior police officer Nidhin Valsan said, adding that the situation is now fully under control.

Officials said a banquet hall and a dispensary constructed on the encroached land were demolished during the night operation to avoid inconvenience to the public. Around 30 bulldozers and 50 dump trucks were deployed for the exercise.

Police have begun identifying those involved in the violence using more than 100 video clips, and cases will be registered based on statements from injured policemen and MCD workers.

The demolition was carried out following a November 2025 Delhi High Court order granting three months to the MCD and the Public Works Department (PWD) to clear encroachments spread over 38,940 sq ft at Ramlila Ground near Turkman Gate.

In December, the civic body stated that structures beyond 0.195 acres were unauthorised, noting that no documentary evidence had been produced by the mosque’s managing committee or the Delhi Waqf Board to establish ownership or lawful possession. The 0.195-acre parcel houses the mosque.

The alleged encroachments included portions of a road and footpath, a baraat ghar, a parking area, and a private diagnostic centre. When MCD officials attempted to mark the encroached land on January 4, they faced protests from local residents, leading to heightened police deployment.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Ministry of Urban Development, MCD, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), PWD and the Delhi Waqf Board on a plea challenging the encroachment removal order.

Justice Amit Bansal issued notices on a petition filed by the managing committee of Masjid Syed Faiz Elahi and asked the authorities to file replies within four weeks. The matter has been posted for further hearing on April 22.

The managing committee contended that the land is a notified waqf property governed by the Waqf Act and claimed it has been paying lease rent to the Waqf Board. While stating it has no objection to removal of encroachments, the committee raised concerns regarding the graveyard functioning on the land.

The MCD, however, maintained that only the 0.195-acre land leased in February 1940 is exempt from action and clarified that no demolition is proposed on the leased portion.