Early Wednesday morning, 7 January 2026, violent clashes broke out at Turkman Gate near Ramlila Maidan in Old Delhi during an anti-encroachment drive.
Five police personnel sustained minor injuries after a mob of 25-30 residents allegedly pelted stones at the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) teams and security forces.
The MCD was executing a High Court-mandated order to clear nearly 39,000 sq. ft of encroached land adjoining the Masjid Syed Faiz Elahi. To restore order, police were forced to deploy tear gas shells.
While the mosque itself remains untouched, the demolition targeted unauthorized structures, including a banquet hall and a dispensary. Delhi Police have registered case against unknown people, meanwhile, around ten people have been detained so far, the times of India reported.
Delhi HC Order
The roots of this confrontation trace back to a November 2025 Delhi High Court order, which granted the MCD and PWD three months to remove encroachments spanning 38,940 sq. ft at Ramlila Ground.
By December, authorities clarified that all structures beyond the 0.195-acre leased land, the actual footprint of the mosque, were illegal.
The managing committee of the mosque and the Delhi Waqf Board reportedly failed to provide documentary evidence establishing ownership of the disputed area. Despite previous attempts to mark the land on 4 January being met with local protests, the MCD moved forward under heavy security to uphold the judicial directive.
MCD Demolition Drive
The demolition commenced in the dead of night to minimize public inconvenience, but quickly spiraled into chaos as 17 bulldozers rolled into the Turkman Gate area. Protesters, claiming the land was notified Waqf property, began pelting stones from rooftops and narrow lanes.
“We had to use tear gas to control the situation,” stated DCP Nidhin Valsan, adding that five officers were injured in the process.
While the mosque’s committee moved a fresh plea in the High Court challenging the demolition, Justice Amit Bansal issued notices to the Ministry of Urban Development and MCD but did not grant an immediate stay, listing the matter for a detailed hearing on 22 April.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that the rule of law must be upheld, but its execution should never lead to the spilling of blood or the fracture of communal harmony.
While illegal encroachments on public land hinder urban development, the human element, especially involving religious sentiments and essential services like dispensaries, requires a delicate, empathetic approach.
We advocate for transparent dialogue between civic bodies and local communities to ensure that judicial orders are understood before bulldozers arrive. Violence is never a solution, and stone-pelting only serves to delegitimize genuine grievances.
News in Q&A
1. What triggered the violence at Turkman Gate during the demolition? Violence broke out at 1:30 AM when the MCD began clearing encroachments near the Syed Faiz Elahi Mosque. Tensions escalated as roughly 150 residents gathered to protest, eventually leading to stone-pelting from rooftops. Police used measured force, including tear gas, to disperse the crowd and protect workers.
2. Why was the demolition being carried out by the MCD? The drive followed a November 12, 2025, Delhi High Court order directing authorities to clear 38,940 sq. ft of unauthorized encroachments at Ramlila Ground. A joint government survey identified illegal structures, including a banquet hall and clinic, built on public road and park land beyond the mosque’s footprint.
3. What is the legal dispute regarding the mosque and its land? The mosque committee argues the land is a notified Waqf property and has paid rent accordingly. However, the MCD maintains that only 0.195 acres (934 sq. yards) were legally leased in 1940. Authorities claim no documentary evidence was provided to establish ownership for the additional 36,000 sq. ft cleared.
4. What was the High Court’s latest stance on the eviction? On January 6, hours before the drive, the High Court issued notices to the Ministry of Urban Development and MCD but refused to stay the demolition. While acknowledging the “matter requires consideration,” the court allowed the drive to proceed, listing the detailed hearing for April 22, 2026.
5. What is the current status of the area and those involved? Normalcy has returned to Turkman Gate, which remains under heavy police and RAF vigil. The five injured officers received medical treatment for minor wounds. Police are currently analyzing CCTV and body-camera footage to identify and register FIRs against individuals involved in the stone-pelting incident.
