Stones Thrown At Cops During Demolition Drive Near Delhi Mosque, 5 Injured

At least five police personnel were injured as an anti-encroachment drive near a mosque in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan turned violent early Wednesday.

The clashes broke out when about 300 officials and workers of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) were carrying out a demolition drive at a land adjoining the Syed Faiz Elahi mosque and graveyard at Turkman Gate following the orders from the Delhi High Court.

VIDEO | Delhi: MCD carries out demolition drive against illegal encroachment near Faiz-e-Elahi mosque, Turkman Gate.#DelhiNews #TurkmanGate

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/wXSFi4lfA9

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 7, 2026

However, during the demolition drive, some residents threw stones at the officials, forcing the police to use tear gas to control the situation. Some residents then threw stones at the police teams.

"About 25-30 people threw stones at police teams, in which five policemen sustained minor injuries. We had to use tear gas to control the situation. There was a banquet hall and a dispensary, which have been demolished. The drive was conducted in the night, keeping in mind that people should not face any difficulty," senior police officer Nidhin Valsan said.

"We will take action against those who were involved in stone pelting. The situation is 100 per cent under control here," he added.

VIDEO | Delhi: DCP Nidhin Valsan on demolition drive against illegal encroachment near Faiz-e-Elahi mosque, Turkman Gate, says, "About 25-30 people were involved in stone pelting on police teams in which five policemen sustained minor injuries. We had to use tear gas to control… pic.twitter.com/I40xzyWCfQ

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 7, 2026

The police said they have detained five accused and are identifying others using over 100 videos in which the mob can be seen throwing stones.

A case has also been registered on the basis of the statements of the injured policemen and the MCD workers.

The officials had brought in about 30 bulldozers and 50 dump trucks to remove the unauthorised structures in the area.

The MCD's action was taken after a November 2025 order of the Delhi High Court granted three months to the civic body and the Public Works Department (PWD) to clear 38,940 sq. ft of encroachments at the Ramlila Ground near Turkman Gate.

In December, the MCD declared that all structures beyond 0.195 acres of land are liable to be demolished and that no documentary evidence has been produced to establish ownership or lawful possession of the land by the managing committee of the mosque or the Delhi Waqf Board. The 0.195-acre land houses the mosque.

The encroachments included portions of a road, a footpath, a "baraat ghar", a parking area and a private diagnostic centre.

MCD officials then visited the site to mark the encroached area on January 4 but faced protests from locals, prompting increased police deployment.

Delhi High Court Issues Notices

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the responses of the Ministry of Urban Development, MCD, and Delhi Waqf Board on a plea challenging an order issued by authorities to remove alleged encroachments.

Justice Amit Bansal issued notices to the MCD, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Ministry of Urban Development's Land and Development Office (L&DO), PWD, and Delhi Waqf Board on a petition filed by the managing committee of the Masjid Syed Faiz Elahi.

The high court said the "matter requires consideration" and asked the authorities to file their replies to the plea within four weeks. It listed the matter for further hearing on April 22.

Seeking the cancellation of the MCD order, the mosque's managing committee said the property in question is being used by it, and it is paying lease rent to the waqf board.

The plea said that the land is a notified waqf property governed by the Waqf Act, and therefore, the Waqf Tribunal has an exclusive jurisdiction over all disputes relating to it.

They said that they have no objection to the removal of encroachments from the land and that the functioning of the "baraat ghar" and the clinic has been stopped. The committee's sole grievance is in respect of the graveyard operating on the land, the plea said.

The MCD said that land measuring 0.195 acres was leased in February 1940 and that no action is being proposed in respect of the land covered under the lease.