Delhi Turmoil: MCD demolition near Faiz-e-Elahi mosque sparks clashes in Turkman Gate
Delhi Turmoil: MCD demolition near Faiz-e-Elahi mosque sparks clashes in Turkman Gate
Late-night demolition near a historic mosque triggers clashes as police fire tear gas and residents push back in Delhi's Turkman Gate.
A dawn operation by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi involved around 17 bulldozers demolishing portions of the century-old Masjid Syed Faiz Elahi near Turkman Gate, following a December 22, 2025 MCD order that declared all structures beyond 0.195 acres liable to demolition and that ownership documents had not been submitted by the mosque's managing committee or the Delhi Waqf Board. The 0.195-acre site houses the mosque.
Videos circulating in residents’ groups showed bulldozers and earth-movers at work while police appeared to fire tear gas shells. Groups of people were seen throwing stones at security personnel moving through the area. A Delhi police officer said at least five officers were injured during the night’s clashes, and added that the authorities used minimal force and aimed to keep the operation smooth. He also noted that CCTV footage, ground footage, and body-camera footage would be reviewed to identify those responsible for disturbances.
The MCD’s action follows a November 12, 2025 order of a division bench of the Delhi High Court granting three months to the civic body and the Public Works Department to remove encroachments at Ramlila Ground near Turkman Gate. The encroachments, identified during a joint survey in October 2025, included a road, a footpath, a baraat ghar, a parking area, and a private diagnostic centre. The court’s direction came while hearing a PIL filed by the Save India Foundation. Some portions of the encroached land were found to belong to public authorities, authorities said. After issuing notices, MCD teams marked the encroached areas on January 4 and faced resistance, prompting additional police deployment.
The operation, described by officials as a necessary step to clear encroachments, drew coverage from multiple outlets that highlighted the tense scene: 17 bulldozers at work, clashes near the mosque, and injuries to police personnel. While officials maintained the aim was to adhere to legal orders, residents and activists called for restraint and due process, stressing the sensitivity around religious sites. The episode underscores the broader, simmering tension over encroachments and the protection of public and religious spaces, with legal processes continuing in the background.
