Delhi: 5 cops injured in clash during demolition near mosque; teargas used, normalcy restored
The clashes broke out when the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was carrying out demolition work on land adjacent to the mosque and the nearby cemetery at Turkman Gate, as directed by the Delhi High Court.
An MCD official said that the mosque was not damaged during the drive.
Delhi Police later said in a statement that tear gas shells were used to disperse the crowd, after which the situation was brought under control and normalcy returned.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan said that MCD had planned the demolition for the intervening night of January 6 and 7, following which police personnel were mobilized and deployed to the area.
However, when MCD machines, including JCBs, were about to arrive, around 100-150 people gathered.
It was claimed that some people resorted to throwing stones during the operation, which caused chaos in the region. He said most people dispersed after being persuaded. However, some tried to create mayhem and resorted to throwing stones; Meanwhile, five police officers received minor injuries and received medical treatment.
We had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd, the DCP said.
Legal action will be initiated after getting medical reports and recording statements, he said, adding that CCTV footage are also being analyzed.
The officer said that a banquet hall and dispensary near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque, which was declared encroachment by the court, were destroyed during the drive.
Police said the land-owning body, MCD, had already informed the police about the proposed demolition and requested deployment of force to maintain law and order.
The DCP said that immediately after receiving the report, the police contacted the residents of the area and informed them that the demolition was a legal action, adding that the police trusted the people in the area and received significant cooperation from them.
Deputy Commissioner of MCD Vivek Kumar said that the demolition was carried out in accordance with the Supreme Court order and around 36,000 square meters of encroachment area was cleared in the meantime.
Kumar said that there was a diagnostic center, a marriage hall and two two-storey boundary walls in the cleared area, and added that the demolition continued throughout the night.
He said enough debris to fill about 200 to 250 vehicles was still in the area and would be removed as part of the ongoing cleanup operation.
Kumar announced that there was no damage to the mosque during the drive.
He said demolition took time because the structures were solidly built and their walls were about nine inches thick.
According to the police, extensive law and order arrangements had been made in advance, with senior officers deployed in multiple areas. Coordination meetings were also held with local peace committee members.
Meanwhile, Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range) Madhur Verma said in a statement, “As per the directions of the Delhi High Court, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) carried out a demolition drive in the occupied area around Turkman Gate, Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid near Ramlila Maidan, Delhi, in the early hours of the morning.” he said.
He said comprehensive law and order arrangements have been put in place by the Delhi Police to ensure smooth conduct of the demolition process and maintain public order.
“The entire district has been meticulously divided into nine zones and each has been placed under the supervision of an officer of the rank of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police. Adequate police force has been deployed at all sensitive points,” the Joint CP said. he said.
Before the demolition work, various coordination meetings were held with Aman Committee members and other local stakeholders to maintain peace and prevent untoward incidents. He said all possible preventive and confidence-building measures were being taken.
“During the demolition, a few miscreants tried to create disturbance by throwing stones. The situation was immediately brought under control with measured and minimal use of force, allowing tensions to return to normal without escalating,” he added.
Joint CP Verma, in a statement, said that Delhi Police is committed to maintaining law and order while ensuring that all judicial orders are implemented in a legal, professional and sensitive manner.
Several videos have emerged in which police officers can be seen leading the force to maintain law and order after they were pelted with stones and glass bottles.
Police personnel were also seen firing multiple tear gas grenades to disperse the crowd forcing the police to take action.
“The situation is now completely under control. There has been heavy deployment,” the Joint CP reiterated.
