In a decisive move last night, bulldozers were deployed near the historic Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in Delhi's Turkman Gate area. According to police authorities, the operation aimed to dismantle illegal constructions surrounding the mosque, involving over 30 bulldozers on site.
Local residents expressed their dissent through protests, escalating to stone-pelting, prompting police to use tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Source: aajtak
Officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) confirmed the operation commenced at 1 AM. Policing authorities reported minor injuries to four or five personnel during the fray.
What's the Situation Now?
Security measures around Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque are currently heightened. The Delhi Police have filed FIRs against unidentified individuals linked to the stone-pelting incidents, leveraging CCTV and body camera footage to trace culprits.
Source: aajtak
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Bulldozers Roll Despite Court Notices
Despite a recent notice by the Delhi High Court regarding a petition from the mosque's managing committee challenging the removal actions, the demolition proceeded. Controversy arose as the operations occurred despite legal interventions.
The premises included a section of road, sidewalk, community hall, parking area, and a private diagnostic center.
Source: aajtak
Delhi's Joint Commissioner of Police, Madhur Verma, stated that the stone-pelting was efficiently subdued with adequate force, restoring order promptly.
Before the operation, several coordination meetings with local residents were conducted to maintain peace and assure them of procedural fairness.
Source: aajtak
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Court Proceedings and Responses
The MCD action stemmed from a High Court division bench's directive from November 12, 2025, mandating removal of 38,940 square feet of encroachment within three months, based on a petition filed by the Save India Foundation.
This directive followed a survey in October 2025, which confirmed encroachments involving land parcels under MCD, PWD, and L&DO.
On January 4, MCD officials sought to mark the encroached areas, facing opposition from locals, necessitating increased police presence.
Contestations from the mosque's management committee against the MCD order insist the properties are under the Waqf Act's jurisdiction, with lease payments made to the Waqf Board.
The petition bolstered the case by emphasizing the land's designation as a Waqf-notified property, advocating for the Waqf Tribunal's exclusive jurisdiction over disputes.
