5 folks had been detained after a primary info report (FIR) was registered by the Delhi Police in reference to alleged stone pelting incidents throughout a demolition drive carried out by the Municipal Company of Delhi (MCD) close to a century-old mosque at Turkman Gate within the early hours of Wednesday.
Confirming the event, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) (central) Nidhin Valsan mentioned the FIR has been lodged underneath related sections (221/132/121/191(2)/191(3), 223 (A)/ 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 costs together with rioting, obstructing public servants in discharge of responsibility, destruction of presidency property and inflicting harm to public servants on responsibility and three Prevention of Harm to Public Property Act, 1984 (PDPP Act-1984).
No less than 5 police personnel had been injured through the incident, a Delhi Police official confirmed.
“5 folks have been detained in reference to the incident. They had been recognized with the assistance of movies captured by officers carrying bodycams and different footage obtainable,” an official conscious of the developments mentioned.
Whereas the scenario was regular on Wednesday morning, pressure gripped components of Outdated Delhi after civic authorities, backed by heavy police deployment, started eradicating alleged encroachments abutting Masjid Syed Elahi, often known as Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid, close to Ramlila Maidan. Whereas the demolition was scheduled to start at 8am, it was initiated round 1:30am, triggering protests from native residents.
Additionally Learn: Tear fuel, bulldozers as MCD carries out late-night demolition drive close to Delhi’s Faiz-e-Elahi mosque
Movies circulated amongst neighbourhood teams confirmed bulldozers and earth-movers razing buildings near the mosque as police personnel stood guard. Different clips additionally confirmed firing of tear fuel shells and stone pelting incidents. PR couldn’t independently confirm the authenticity of the movies.
Madhur Verma, joint commissioner of police (Central Vary), mentioned the demolition was carried out “pursuant to the instructions of the Hon’ble Excessive Court docket of Delhi” and that intensive law-and-order preparations had been made to make sure the drive was performed easily.
“Your complete space was meticulously divided into 9 zones, every underneath the supervision of an officer of the rank of further deputy commissioner of police. Over ten firms of Delhi Police and the Fast Motion Drive (RAF) had been deployed at delicate factors,” Verma mentioned.
He added that coordination conferences had been held prematurely with members of the Aman Committee and different native stakeholders to keep up peace.
“Through the course of the demolition, just a few miscreants tried to create disturbance by indulging in stone pelting. The scenario was promptly introduced underneath management by means of measured and minimal use of pressure,” Verma mentioned.
A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, mentioned that “minimal pressure was used” to regulate the scenario.
Reacting to the developments, Delhi’s house minister Ashish Sood careworn that the demolition drive was executed solely to take away unlawful encroachments.
“I wish to clearly state that the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque is totally protected. The motion is restricted solely to these unlawful business institutions that fall throughout the scope of the courtroom’s orders. There isn’t any arbitrariness or mala fide intent on the a part of the federal government on this matter”, he mentioned.
He known as the stone pelting incident as unlucky including that 5 folks had been arrested to date.
“Some business institutions had illegally come up across the mosque, towards which motion was being taken in compliance with the instructions of the courtroom. Obstructing or disrupting work being carried out throughout the framework of regulation is totally unacceptable”, he mentioned.
“In protest towards this motion, sure felony and mischievous components resorted to demonstrations and violence, which can’t be tolerated. The people concerned within the incident have been recognized, and authorized motion is being taken towards them in accordance with the regulation. To date, 5 folks have been arrested on this case”, he added.
The demolition got here even because the Delhi Excessive Court docket on Tuesday issued discover on a petition filed by the managing committee of Masjid Syed Elahi, difficult the MCD’s choice to take away alleged encroachments from land adjoining the mosque and a kabristan (graveyard).
A bench led by Justice Amit Bansal noticed that the matter required consideration, directed the MCD and the Land and Growth Workplace (L&DO) to file their responses, and listed the matter for listening to on April 22.
On December 22, 2025, the MCD had issued a discover declaring that each one buildings past 0.195 acres — the realm that homes the mosque — had been liable to be demolished as a part of an anti-encroachment drive, stating that no documentary proof had been produced to determine lawful possession or possession of the remaining land by the managing committee or the Delhi Waqf Board.
The motion adopted a November 12, 2025, excessive courtroom order directing the MCD and the Public Works Division (PWD) to clear 38,940 sq. toes of encroachments at Ramlila Floor close to Turkman Gate inside three months.
The order was primarily based on a joint survey performed in October 2025 by a number of businesses, together with the MCD, Delhi Growth Authority (DDA), PWD, L&DO, the Union city growth ministry, the income division and police.
MCD officers had confronted resistance from locals after they visited the positioning on Sunday to mark the encroached space, prompting heightened police deployment forward of Wednesday’s drive.
