Turkman Gate Mosque Pre-Dawn Demolition Sparks Outrage in Old Delhi; Police Restore Calm with ‘Minimal’ Force

Tensions flared in the early hours of Wednesday as civic authorities, aided by police, initiated a demolition drive to address alleged encroachments adjacent to the historic Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid in the Turkman Gate area of Old Delhi. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had planned to commence the demolition at 8 a.m. on January 7, but operations kicked off unexpectedly around 1:30 a.m. Eyewitness videos captured bulldozers dismantling parts of the mosque as a heavy police presence oversaw the operation.

According to police statements, some individuals engaged in stone pelting during the demolition efforts, which were swiftly contained using measured force. Madhur Verma, the Joint Commissioner of Police for the Central Range, told ANI that the demolitions followed directives from the Delhi High Court regarding the encroached areas near the mosque, which is situated close to Ramlila Maidan. Verma emphasized that the police response was calibrated to prevent escalation and restore order promptly.

This demolition proceeded despite a notice issued by the Delhi High Court just a day prior, responding to a petition by the mosque’s managing committee. The petition challenges the MCD’s decision to remove purported encroachments from land adjacent to the mosque and the graveyard at Ramlila Maidan, asserting that the committee has been using the property and paying rent to the Waqf Board. The petition argues that the land qualifies as a waqf property under the Waqf Act, placing jurisdiction over disputes with the Waqf Tribunal.

Justice Amit Bansal, leading the bench, acknowledged the need for further examination of the matter, directing the MCD and the Land & Development Office (L&DO) to submit responses, with a hearing slated for April 22.

Contextually, this area gained notoriety after a tragic incident involving a suicide bomber, Umar Un Nabi, who reportedly visited the mosque shortly before executing a devastating explosion near the Red Fort on November 10, 2025, resulting in 15 casualties. Following this event, the MCD issued a demolition notice on December 22, 2025, stating that any structures exceeding 0.195 acres would be subject to demolition. Authorities concluded that no valid documentation had been presented to establish lawful ownership or possession of the land by either the mosque’s managing committee or the Delhi Waqf Board. The designated 0.195-acre area includes the mosque structure.

This notice followed a November 12, 2025, ruling from the Delhi High Court, which instructed the MCD and the Public Works Department (PWD) to address encroachments encompassing 38,940 square feet at Ramlila Ground, near Turkman Gate. A joint survey conducted by authorities in October 2025 identified encroachments on lands that belonged to the MCD, PWD, and L&DO.

In the days leading up to the demolition, MCD officials attempted to mark the encroached areas on January 4 but faced opposition from local residents, prompting an increase in police forces to ensure compliance. The ongoing situation serves as a flashpoint in the long-standing tensions surrounding land use and religious sites in the capital, illustrating the complexities of urban development and community rights in a crowded metropolis.

Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/predawn-demolition-near-turkman-gate-mosque-triggers-tension-in-old-delhi-normalcy-after-minimal-force-say-cops-11767744153183.html
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Publish Date: 2026-01-07 05:44:00