Overnight demolition near Delhi mosque sparks protests, police crackdown
Early-morning action near historic Turkman Gate mosque triggers clashes, detentions and legal questions as High Court hearing remains pending
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Demolition work carried out in the early hours of Wednesday near a century-old mosque in central Delhi triggered protests, heavy police action and fresh legal scrutiny, as residents questioned why authorities moved ahead while the dispute remains before the courts.
According to local officials, teams from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, backed by Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force, began an “anti-encroachment drive” around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday near Turkman Gate, close to the Syed Faiz-e-Lahi Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the area.
Residents said security forces had started mobilizing earlier on Tuesday evening, with police personnel and bulldozers assembling near the site around 8 p.m. Although the demolition was officially scheduled for 8 a.m. on Wednesday, authorities moved in several hours earlier, prompting residents to gather in protest.
Police used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds as tensions escalated. Eyewitnesses reported prolonged tear gas deployment during the night and clashes involving stone-throwing. More than 25 people were detained, according to a lawyer present at the site. Police later said cases had been registered for rioting, obstructing public servants and damaging government property.
Senior police officials said the operation was conducted in compliance with directions from the Delhi High Court, citing an earlier order to clear encroachments near Ramlila Ground. Municipal authorities said notices had been issued on December 22, 2025, declaring structures outside a designated area around the mosque liable for removal.
However, the demolition went ahead even as the High Court on Tuesday issued notice on a petition filed by the mosque’s managing committee challenging the municipal decision. The court directed the civic body and the Land and Development Office to respond and scheduled the matter for hearing on April 22, observing that the dispute required examination.
The overnight action drew criticism from Muslim political and religious figures. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Vice President Malik Motasim Khan said authorities should have exercised restraint while the matter was sub judice. Member of Parliament Imran Pratapgarhi described the timing and scale of force deployment as unjustified, arguing that legal proceedings were still under way.
Asaduddin Owaisi, parliamentarian and leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, said the land in question was recorded as waqf property and criticized what he described as procedural lapses, including the absence of the Delhi Waqf Board as a party when earlier court directions were issued.
Residents also alleged selective enforcement, pointing to nearby religious and commercial structures that were not targeted. Municipal officials did not immediately respond to these claims.
The demolitions form part of a wider pattern of “anti-encroachment” drives across Indian cities that have increasingly drawn scrutiny from rights groups and legal experts, particularly when carried out amid ongoing court proceedings and accompanied by mass detentions.
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