NEW DELHI: Delhi police have arrested five people in connection with a stone-pelting incident that broke out near the Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid in the Turkman Gate area of the capital, where a demolition drive was carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday. Sources said that Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi was present in the area when the incident occurred. The violence erupted while the MCD was conducting a court-mandated demolition on land adjoining the mosque and a nearby graveyard. At least five police personnel were injured after some people allegedly pelted stones and glass bottles at the force. An FIR has been registered in the matter, and five people have been detained for questioning, police said. Delhi home minister Ashish Sood described the stone pelting as “unfortunate” and warned that violence would not be tolerated.
Demolition drive at Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque near Turkman Gate in Delhi on Wednesday. (Image Credit: Tarun Rawat)
He said some commercial establishments had illegally come up around the mosque and action was being taken in compliance with court directions. “Obstructing or disrupting work being carried out within the framework of law is completely unacceptable,” Sood said. He added that certain “criminal and mischievous elements” resorted to demonstrations and violence, which could not be tolerated, and said individuals involved in the incident had been identified and legal action was being taken against them. So far, five people have been caught in the case, he said. “I want to clearly state that Faiz-e-Elahi mosque is completely safe. The action is limited only to those illegal commercial establishments that fall within the scope of the court’s orders. There is no arbitrariness or mala fide intent on the part of the government in this matter,” Sood stated. The minister also appealed to people not to fall prey to provocation, warning that strict action would be taken against anyone who took the law into their own hands. He urged the public to cooperate with the administration in identifying anti-social elements and maintaining communal harmony. MCD deputy commissioner Vivek Kumar said no damage had been caused to the mosque during the drive. He said the demolition was carried out in compliance with a high court order and that around 36,000 square feet of encroached area was cleared. The cleared area included a diagnostic centre, a marriage hall and two two-storey boundary walls. The demolition continued through the night, he added. Kumar said debris sufficient to fill around 200 to 250 vehicles was still lying at the site and would be removed as part of the ongoing clean-up operation.The operationThe operation began soon after midnight, with about 17 bulldozers, excavators and other heavy machinery deployed at the site. Authorities said the action was meticulously planned, with the area divided into several zones under the supervision of senior officials. Rapid Action Force personnel were positioned at strategic locations, while additional police units were deployed to maintain law and order. Traffic advisories were issued in advance, alerting commuters to possible congestion around Ramlila Maidan and nearby roads. Traffic diversions were also put in place to ensure smooth vehicular movement. Delhi Police said the situation in the Turkman Gate area was under control and reiterated that court orders were being implemented in a professional and sensitive manner, while ensuring the safety of both residents and personnel.(With inputs from agencies)
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