Clashes Erupt During Anti-Encroachment Drive Near Delhi Mosque
Violence Breaks Out Amid Demolition Efforts
On Wednesday, at least five police officers sustained injuries during confrontations that erupted amid an anti-encroachment operation close to a mosque in the Ramlila Maidan area of Delhi. The clashes occurred as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi initiated a demolition on land adjacent to the Faiz Elahi Mosque and a nearby graveyard located at Turkman Gate.
An official from the civic body confirmed that the mosque itself remained unharmed during the operation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan stated that the demolition was planned for the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, prompting police deployment at the site.
As demolition equipment approached, a crowd of approximately 100 to 150 individuals gathered at the location.
Madhur Verma, Joint Commissioner of Police for the Central Range, mentioned that some individuals attempted to incite chaos by throwing stones. He noted that the situation was swiftly managed with minimal force, allowing for a return to normalcy without further escalation.
This demolition initiative was based on a December 22 directive from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, which identified structures exceeding 0.19 acres around the mosque as encroachments subject to removal. The civic body indicated that no valid documentation had been presented to prove ownership or lawful possession of the land by the mosque's managing committee or the Delhi Waqf Board, although the mosque itself is situated within the 0.19-acre area.
The corporation's order followed a November 12 ruling from a division bench of the Delhi High Court, which granted the civic body and the Public Works Department three months to eliminate 38,940 square feet of encroachments near Ramlila Ground at Turkman Gate.
However, on Tuesday, the Delhi High Court acknowledged that the issue 'requires consideration' while addressing a petition from the mosque's managing committee contesting the December 22 directive.