Police flag influencers over false mosque claims
Delhi police have identified 10 social media influencers who allegedly spread false claims that the Faiz-e-Elahi Mosque near Turkman Gate had been demolished during a court-ordered anti-encroachment drive and one woman influencer has been summoned for questioning. Authorities said the content being circulated was misleading and had the potential to disturb communal harmony. Meanwhile, six more arrests have been made in connection with the violence, which left police personnel injured. The total number of arrests made in the matter now stands at 11, including the apprehension of a juvenile.
Police said that a woman was summoned after social media monitoring teams of the police flagged a video in which she purportedly claimed that the mosque in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan had been razed, a senior police officer said on Thursday.
“Teams have identified at least 10 social media accounts, including one Salman, which were spreading rumours about the drive,” he said, adding that the content being circulated was misleading and factually incorrect, triggering violence as many
“We have prepared a list of 10 influencers whose posts and videos are under scrutiny. We have more people under the radar. Our teams are analysing the content being circulated on social media, and these influencers will be questioned soon,” the officer added.
The video, police said, was linked to misinformation surrounding a court-ordered anti-encroachment drive near the Faiz-e-Elahi Mosque area. “The video contained misleading claims related to the recent anti-encroachment drive. Such content has the potential to disturb public order and harmony,” a police source said.
Police said misleading audio messages circulated on multiple WhatsApp groups were key to fuelling rumours about the alleged demolition of the Faiz-e-Elahi Mosque near the Turkman Gate, even as officers moved swiftly to counter the narrative.
Rumours claiming the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was demolishing the mosque spread primarily through voice notes shared across community, religious and neighbourhood WhatsApp groups ahead of a court-ordered anti-encroachment drive.
Investigators said several WhatsApp groups were already under police watch when the audio messages began circulating. “Our teams had penetrated these groups and actively countered the false claims. This helped restrict the crowd size and prevented wider mobilisation,” a senior police officer said. Around four to five WhatsApp groups that showed an aggressive or provocative tone were placed under close surveillance, police said, adding that no fresh groups appeared to have been created immediately before the incident -- a factor that is being examined while probing whether the rumours were pre-planned.
“As soon as the misinformation surfaced, our ACPs and SHOs reached out to Aman Committee members, community elders and religious leaders to clarify that the mosque would not be touched,” the officer said, adding that senior officers personally engaged with clerics to dispel fear.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan had held meetings with more than 120 maulvis days before the drive, clearly explaining that only illegal encroachments would be removed and that the mosque itself was not part of the action. Religious leaders were also informed about their legal remedies if they wished to challenge the court order.
Another officer said that their social media teams are keeping a strict vigil on all platforms and closely monitoring the content being circulated. “Misinformation will not be tolerated, and those found spreading such content will be summoned,” the officer said. He said that strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to disturb public order by circulating rumours or misleading information. “No one will be spared if they are found trying to create panic or communal tension through false narratives,” the officer said. Police also appealed to the public to rely only on verified information and to refrain from forwarding unverified posts on social media platforms. “People are requested not to believe or share unverified content. Any attempt to mislead the public will invite legal action,” the officer said.
According to police, those arrested on Thursday have been identified as, Afaan, Adil, Shahnawaz, Hamza, Atharr and Ubed, all are residents of the Turkman Gate area. “We have arrested six more people. So far total of 11 people, including one juvenile, have been apprehended,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan said. He said that adequate deployment of police personnel and paramilitary forces has been made in the area to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident. Officers are closely monitoring the situation, he added.
Tight security arrangements will remain in place at Turkman Gate in central Delhi after a court-ordered anti-encroachment drive triggered clashes and stone pelting in the area early Wednesday. Adequate deployment of police personnel and paramilitary forces has been made to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident, they said. “Senior officers are closely monitoring the situation. The area remains peaceful now,” a police officer said.
An anti-encroachment drive near the mosque in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan area on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday triggered violence as many people pelted stones at police personnel, injuring five of them, including the area’s station house officer.
