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New Delhi: A demolition drive near a mosque at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan turned violent early Wednesday, leaving at least five police personnel injured. Around 300 officials and workers of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) were carrying out the anti-encroachment drive when clashes erupted between the cops and the local residents. The drive was being conducted on a land adjoining the Syed Faiz Elahi mosque and graveyard at Turkman Gate.
The demolition drive was being carried out to clear and raze alleged encroachments on public land, in compliance with directions from the Delhi High Court. Acting on the court’s direction pronounced in November 2025, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) moved to clear the land adjoining the Syed Faiz Elahi mosque and graveyard at Turkman Gate.
The court had underlined that the encroachments were illegal and required to be removed to restore public land for civic use. The court directed the MCD to ensure the clearance was carried out lawfully and without harming public property. It had given 3 months to the MCD and the Public Works Department (PWD) to ensure clearance of 38,940 sq. ft of encroachments near the Ramlila Grounds.
Subsequently, on December 22 last year, the MCD issued notice announcing that all structures beyond 0.195 acres were to be demolished, as part of an anti-encroachment drive. The 0.195-acre land houses sections of a road, a footpath, a 'baarat ghar', a parking lot, and a diagnostic centre. The civic body said that no documentary evidence has been presented to prove ownership or lawful possession of the land by the mosque’s managing committee or the Delhi Waqf Board.
A petition filed by the managing committee of Masjid Syed Elahi contested the MCD's decision to remove alleged encroachments from the land adjoining the mosque and graveyard located at Ramlila Maidan.
The plea sought the cancellation of the MCD order, claiming that it is using the property in question and paying lease rent to the Waqf Board. It added that the land is a notified waqf property governed by the Waqf Act, and hence, the Waqf Tribunal has an exclusive jurisdiction over all disputes relating to it. The committee pointed out that they have no objection to the removal of encroachments from the land and that the functioning of the "baraat ghar" and the diagnostic centre had been stopped. The committee said its only objection is regarding the graveyard operating on the land, the plea said.
The MCD pointed out that 0.195 acres of land had been leased in February 1940 and that no action was being planned for the land covered under this lease.
On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court asked the Ministry of Urban Development, MCD, and Delhi Waqf Board to respond on the plea challenging the MCD order to remove alleged encroachments. It said the "matter requires consideration" and asked the authorities to file their replies to the petition within four weeks. It said the matter will be heard next on April 22.
The demolition drive was conducted on a stretch of land next to the Syed Faiz Elahi mosque and its adjoining graveyard at Turkman Gate, which is located near Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. The area is densely populated. There are narrow lanes and homes situated near the mosque. When MCD officials and police arrived to carry out the clearance, the tensions mounted in the area.
To ensure the demolition drive goes off smoothly, the Delhi Police had put in place extensive security measures. The area was divided into nine zones. Each zone was overseen by an Additional Commissioner of Police. Police personnel were stationed at all sensitive locations. MCD officials deployed at least 17 bulldozers to execute the demolition drive. The demolition was supposed to start at 8 am, but was carried out at 1.30 am on Wednesday.
Madhur Verma, joint commissioner of police (Central Range), said that extensive law-and-order arrangements were made to ensure the drive was carried out smoothly.
“The entire area was meticulously divided into nine zones, each under the supervision of an officer of the rank of additional deputy commissioner of police. Over ten companies of Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed at sensitive points,” Verma pointed out.
Coordination meetings were also held in advance with members of the Aman Committee and other local stakeholders to build confidence and ensure peace was maintained.
On January 4, MCD officials had visited the site to mark the encroached area but faced protests from local residents, which led to an increased police presence.
As the demolition drive kicked off with bulldozers in the wee hours of Wednesday, stones were pelted at the cops. Senior police officer Nidhin Valsan reportedly said that around 25-30 people threw stones at police teams, in which five policemen sustained minor injuries. In response, the police had to use tear gas to control the situation. "There was a banquet hall and a dispensary, which have been demolished. The drive was conducted in the night, keeping in mind that people should not face any difficulty," he pointed out.
Videos shared among neighbourhood groups showed bulldozers and earth-movers razing down structures near the mosque, with police personnel standing guard.
At least five police personnel have been injured due to alleged stone-pelting. Police have detained five people after a first information report (FIR) was registered by the Delhi Police in connection with alleged stone pelting incidents during the demolition drive. The FIR has been lodged under relevant sections (221/132/121/191(2)/191(3), 223 (A)/ 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The charges include rioting, obstructing public servants in discharge of duty, destruction of government property and causing hurt to public servants on duty and three Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 (PDPP Act-1984).
