Pre-dawn demolition near Delhi’s Turkman Gate mosque turns violent

Tensions flared in Old Delhi’s Turkman Gate in the early hours of January 7 after a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) demolition drive to remove encroachments near a mosque triggered violent protests, forcing police to fire tear gas to disperse stone-throwing crowds. Five people were detained and several police personnel sustained minor injuries in the clash.

The pre-dawn operation, which began around 1 am near the Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque, was carried out in compliance with a Delhi High Court order directing the clearance of encroachments at the Ramlila Ground area. According to officials, miscreants attempted to breach barricades and pelted stones at police deployed to secure the site, prompting a calibrated use of force to restore order.

Police said four to five officers were injured during the incident. “The situation was promptly brought under control with minimal and measured use of force, ensuring no escalation,” said Madhur Verma, Joint Commissioner of Police, Central Range.

MCD officials said the drive targeted unauthorised structures—many believed to be nearly a century old—encroaching upon public land, including portions of roads, footpaths, a community hall, a parking area and a private diagnostic centre. Despite a Delhi High Court notice issued on January 6 on a petition filed by the Masjid Syed Elahi managing committee, the demolition proceeded as scheduled.

Delhi Police have registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act. Investigators are scrutinising CCTV footage and mobile phone videos to establish the role of those detained, while raids are underway to identify others involved.

The Special Cell and Crime Branch have also been roped in, with police probing whether social media was used to mobilise or incite the crowd.

The demolition stems from a November 12, 2025 High Court order granting three months to the MCD and PWD to clear nearly 38,940 sq ft of encroachments near Turkman Gate. A joint survey conducted in October last year had confirmed unauthorised occupation of land belonging to multiple government agencies.

The Masjid Syed Elahi managing committee has contested the action, claiming the land is a notified waqf property under the Waqf Act and falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Waqf Tribunal.

Anticipating disruption, Delhi Traffic Police issued advisories warning of congestion and road closures around Ramlila Maidan, JLN Marg, Ajmeri Gate and adjoining stretches, urging commuters to avoid the area until the operation concludes.