Tension in Delhi’s Turkman Gate after MCD carries out demolition drive

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) carried out a demolition drive at the encroached area in the vicinity of Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid, Turkman Gate, near Ramlila Maidan, Delhi, in the early morning hours of January 7, 2025, according to an official statement from Delhi Police, pursuant to the directions of the High Court of Delhi.

The MCD’s decision was taken in terms of a November 12, 2025 order of a division Bench of the high court that granted three months to the civic body and the PWD to clear 38,940 sq. ft of encroachments at the Ramlila Ground near Turkman Gate.

“In order to ensure smooth conduct of the demolition programme and to maintain public order, comprehensive law and order arrangements were put in place by Delhi Police. The entire area was meticulously divided into nine zones, each placed under the supervision of an officer of the rank of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police. Adequate deployment of police force was made at all sensitive points,” the statement read.

Prior to the demolition drive, several coordination meetings were held with members of the Aman Committee and other local stakeholders, with the objective of maintaining peace and preventing any untoward incident. All possible preventive and confidence-building measures were undertaken.

However, according to officials, a “few miscreants” attempted to create a disturbance by stone pelting, with the situation being promptly brought under control through “measured and minimal use of force.”

Demolition of an alleged illegal encroachments by a mosque and graveyard at Turkman Gate in New Delhi on January 07, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

“During the course of the demolition, a few miscreants attempted to create a disturbance by indulging in stone pelting. The situation was promptly brought under control through measured and minimal use of force, ensuring that normalcy was restored without escalation,” Madhur Verma, Joint Commissioner of Police, Central Range, said in an official statement.

Delhi Police remains committed to maintaining law and order while ensuring that all judicial directions are implemented in a lawful, professional and sensitive manner, the statement added.

Authorities brought in around 17 bulldozers to remove the unauthorised structures in the area.

The Delhi High Court, on Tuesday, sought the responses of the Ministry of Urban Development, MCD and Delhi Waqf Board on a plea challenging an order issued by authorities to remove alleged encroachments from a land adjoining the Syed Faiz Elahi mosque and graveyard at Turkman Gate.

Justice Amit Bansal issued notices to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Ministry of Urban Development’s Land and Development Office (L&DO), Public Works Department (PWS) and Delhi Waqf Board on a petition filed by the managing committee of the Masjid Syed Faiz Elahi.

The court said the “matter requires consideration” and asked the authorities to file their replies to the plea within four weeks. It listed the matter for further hearing on April 22.

The petition has challenged the December 22, 2025 order of the MCD, declaring that all structures beyond 0.195 acres of land are liable to be demolished and that no documentary evidence has been produced to establish ownership or lawful possession of the land by the managing committee of the mosque or the Delhi Waqf Board. The 0.195-acre land houses the mosque.

(with inputs from agencies)