Delhi Police Arrests Additional Suspects in Mosque Demolition Violence
New Developments in Mosque Demolition Incident
On January 8, New Delhi: The Delhi Police apprehended six more individuals linked to the violent clashes that occurred during a demolition operation near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in the Turkman Gate region. This brings the total number of arrests in this case to eleven.
Earlier, five individuals were taken into custody on Wednesday for their involvement in the stone-throwing incidents that transpired during the demolition.
The police reported that they have identified 30 individuals who participated in the violence, utilizing CCTV footage, body camera recordings from officers, and various viral videos from the scene.
Officials indicated that they plan to summon Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi for questioning, as he was reportedly present at the location prior to the outbreak of violence.
Despite requests from senior police officials for him to vacate the area, Nadvi remained nearby before the incident unfolded.
The police are also actively searching for YouTuber Salman, who is believed to have incited unrest through social media by encouraging locals to gather during the demolition.
Investigations have uncovered that certain influential figures in the community allegedly urged residents to assemble via WhatsApp groups, aiming to create disorder and obstruct the administrative and law enforcement efforts during the operation.
The FIR, which has been reviewed, outlines the events leading up to the unrest, starting from police barricading the encroached land to locals chanting provocative slogans and throwing stones at officers, who were attempting to explain that the demolition was focused on illegal structures and would not affect the mosque.
The unrest reportedly began at 12:40 a.m. when police initiated barricading. A crowd of approximately 30-35 individuals gathered, shouting slogans and obstructing the police.
Despite warnings to disperse under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the crowd became increasingly aggressive, escalating their slogans and pelting stones at the police.
Videos depicting the stone-throwing and damage to police barricades circulated on social media, prompting outrage from some netizens regarding the direct assault on law enforcement.
The FIR has been filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 221 (obstructing a public servant), 132 (assaulting a public servant), 121 (causing hurt to deter a public servant), 191 (rioting), 223 (disobedience to orders), and provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.