New Delhi, Jan 08, 2026 – Early Wednesday morning, municipal authorities demolished a number of encroachments on public land near the historic Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid in central Delhi’s Turkman Gate area, triggering clashes with local residents. The operation, conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) with police support, came hours after the Delhi High Court issued notices to MCD and the Land & Development Office (L&DO) on a petition filed by the mosque’s managing committee challenging an earlier civic decision.

At 1:30 am, demolition work began following minor stone-pelting incidents, which left five policemen slightly injured and led to the arrest of five individuals. The bulldozers tore down a banquet hall, a diagnostics centre, a room used by Haj pilgrims, parts of a road, a footpath, and a car park, clearing encroachments over 36,428 sq ft of the Ramleela Ground. The mosque itself sits on a 0.195-acre plot leased in 1940 by the L&DO to the managing committee.

The demolition, originally scheduled for 8 am, was advanced due to fears of law-and-order disruptions during the day. Police officials said they initially faced stone pelting from around 30–35 people, prompting the use of a lathi charge and tear gas shells. Five men—Mohammed Kashif, Mohammed Kaif, Mohammed Areeb, Mohammed Adnan, and Mohammed Sameer—were arrested from nearby Chandni Mahal and Darya Ganj areas. According to authorities, “sticks were only used to scare miscreants away and no one was hit.”

Local residents, however, alleged excessive police action. Mohammed Imran, 42, a resident of Kali Gali, claimed that tear gas was fired into residential areas until 3:30 am, disrupting sleep and causing discomfort. Others argued that some protesters were outsiders who had taken advantage of the situation.

The High Court had previously directed the MCD and Public Works Department (PWD) to clear 38,940 sq ft of encroachments near Ramlila Ground, based on a joint survey in October 2025 by multiple agencies. The survey recorded 36,248 sq ft of encroachments on MCD land and 2,512 sq ft on PWD land, all of which were demolished during the operation. The survey also noted that the mosque and a nearby cremation ground occupied 7,343 sq ft of L&DO land, but the court issued no directives affecting them.

Authorities emphasized that multiple hearings had been held with all stakeholders, including the mosque committee and Waqf Board representatives, prior to the action. The MCD stated that documents submitted by the mosque management did not substantiate claims of ownership beyond the leased 0.195-acre plot.

Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood condemned the violence, stating that obstructing lawful court-mandated action is unacceptable and that legal proceedings will continue against those involved. Meanwhile, AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan criticized the demolition as an attempt to create unrest, arguing that some facilities, such as dispensaries or halls run by the Waqf, were being used to serve the community.

The Turkman Gate area, a heritage neighbourhood dating back to the 17th century, has seen decades of incremental encroachments, and authorities have maintained that the drive was a necessary measure to enforce court orders and reclaim public land.