Anti-encroachment drive turns violent, five arrested
A court-mandated anti-encroachment drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) at Ramlila Ground near Turkman Gate early Wednesday spiralled into violence after a group of people allegedly resorted to stone pelting. The violence caused injury to five police personnel and forced authorities to briefly use tear gas to restore order. Police said five people have been arrested in connection with the incident, and further action is underway. Sources said Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi was also present in the area when the violence broke out. There was, however, no official statement on his role in the incident.
The demolition, aimed at removing illegal commercial structures near the century-old Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid, began around 1.30 am, much earlier than its scheduled 8 am start. Officials said the timing was advanced to prevent large gatherings and ensure smooth execution of the Delhi High Court’s order. Despite this, around 100-150 people gathered at the site as heavy machinery rolled in, leading to clashes.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range) Madhur Verma said the situation was brought under control using minimal force. “During the demolition drive, a few miscreants attempted to create disturbance by indulging in stone pelting. The situation was promptly controlled through measured and minimal use of force, and normalcy was restored without escalation,” Verma said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan also confirmed that five police personnel sustained injuries. “Stones and glass bottles were thrown at the police during the night. Tear gas shells were used to disperse the crowd. An FIR has been registered, and five persons have been detained and arrested,” he said.
According to police, the arrested accused in FIR No 17/2026, registered at Chandni Mahal, have been identified as Kashif and Mohd Kaif, both residents of Gali Gudiyan, Chandni Mahal; Mohd Areeb from Gali Elaichi Wali near Turkman Gate; Adnan from Mohalla Jatwara, Daryaganj; and Sameer from Gali Gudiyan, Kucha Chalan, Daryaganj. Police said CCTV footage, body-worn camera recordings and ground videos are being analysed to identify others involved in the violence.
Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood termed the incident “unfortunate” and issued a stern warning. “Some commercial establishments had illegally come up around the mosque. Action is being taken strictly as per court directions. Obstructing or disrupting lawful work will not be tolerated,” Sood said. He added that “criminal and mischievous elements” had resorted to violence and that all those involved would face strict legal action.
The MCD said the demolition followed a detailed legal process and was carried out strictly in compliance with judicial directions. The civic body conducted a joint survey with the Land and Development Office (L&DO) and the Delhi Development Authority. The survey found that around 36,428 square feet of public land had been encroached upon through permanent concrete structures, including a banquet hall, a private diagnostic centre, and portions of a road and footpath.
Following a writ petition, the Delhi High Court on November 12, 2025, directed the MCD to remove the encroachments within three months after giving affected parties an opportunity to be heard. Personal hearings were held on November 24 and December 16, attended by representatives of the managing committee of Masjid Syed Faiz-e-Elahi, the Delhi Waqf Board, and officials from DDA, L&DO and the Delhi government.
After examining documents and submissions, the MCD concluded that only 0.195 acres of land, leased in 1940, legally housed the mosque and associated structures. No ownership documents were produced for the remaining land, leading the civic body to declare all structures beyond the leased area illegal.
MCD deputy commissioner Vivek Aggarwal said the action was limited to encroached land. “Only illegal structures on Ramlila Maidan were removed. The mosque has not been touched and remains completely safe,” he said, adding that clearing demolition debris could take several more hours. While the managing committee of the mosque has challenged the MCD’s order, officials said there was no stay on the High Court’s November directive, under which Wednesday’s demolition was carried out.
