Key Highlights
- At least five police personnel suffered minor injuries during stone-pelting by 25-30 residents amid MCD’s demolition near Syed Faiz Elahi mosque.
- Operation followed November 2025 Delhi High Court order to clear 38,940 sq ft encroachments at Ramlila Ground, Turkman Gate.
- Five detained, FIR registered; situation under control after tear gas deployment.
Violent Clash Erupts in Anti-Encroachment Drive
Early Wednesday, tension boiled over in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan area as an anti-encroachment drive near a historic mosque sparked clashes between residents and authorities. About 300 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials, backed by police, moved bulldozers to demolish structures on land adjoining the Syed Faiz Elahi mosque and graveyard at Turkman Gate. Residents hurled stones at the teams, injuring five policemen and forcing the use of tear gas to restore order.
This anti-encroachment drive highlights ongoing friction over public land use in densely packed Old Delhi neighborhoods. Senior police officer Nidhin Valsan confirmed 25-30 individuals pelted stones, leading to minor injuries among officers. The nighttime operation aimed to minimize public disruption, targeting a banquet hall, dispensary, road portions, footpath, parking area, and diagnostic centre beyond the mosque’s leased 0.195 acres. Police detained five suspects and are reviewing over 100 videos to identify others, with an FIR filed based on injured officers’ statements.
The incident underscores broader challenges in enforcing court orders amid community sensitivities. Ramlila Maidan, known for public events, now faces scrutiny over encroachments that have long altered its layout. As Delhi grapples with urban density, such drives reveal the delicate balance between legal compliance and local resistance.
BIG ACTION in DELHI LAST NIGHT
— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) January 7, 2026
Three months ago, @RashtraJyoti exclusively exposed 38000 sq feet of land grab by a mosque committee in Ramlila Maidan-Turkman Gate, based on explosive findings by @BhaiPreetSingh
Finally, last night, Delhi municipal corporation DEMOLISHED the… pic.twitter.com/9BPL9UgLgg
Court Directives Fuel Demolition Push
- Delhi High Court mandated MCD and PWD in November 2025 to clear 38,940 sq ft at Ramlila Ground within three months.
- MCD declared structures beyond 0.195 acres illegal in December 2025, citing no proof of ownership from mosque committee or Delhi Waqf Board.
The anti-encroachment drive stemmed directly from judicial intervention. In November 2025, the Delhi High Court ordered the MCD and Public Works Department to remove encroachments spanning 38,940 square feet near Turkman Gate, setting a three-month deadline. This followed years of disputes over land leased in February 1940 for just 0.195 acres, housing the mosque itself. Authorities found no valid documents proving lawful possession of additional areas by the mosque’s managing committee or Delhi Waqf Board.
On January 4, MCD teams marked the encroached zones but met protests, prompting heavier police presence for the January 7 operation. The court specified clearing a baraat ghar, parking, road segments, footpath, and private clinic, all deemed illegal extensions. This aligns with MCD’s mandate under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, which empowers civic bodies to reclaim public spaces. Official records show Ramlila Ground, managed partly by MCD, covers vast areas vital for city events, with encroachments reducing usable space by thousands of square feet over decades.
Legal experts note such orders reflect stricter enforcement against unauthorized constructions, especially near religious sites. The Waqf Act, 1995, governs disputed properties, but courts prioritize public interest when evidence lacks. As the drive progressed with 30 bulldozers and 50 dump trucks, it dismantled key structures swiftly, though not without backlash. This episode tests the judiciary’s role in urban land recovery.
Mosque Committee Challenges Legality
- Petition filed by Masjid Syed Faiz Elahi committee contests MCD order, claims graveyard and leased land protected under Waqf Act.
- High Court issued notices to MCD, DDA, PWD, L&DO, Waqf Board; next hearing set for April 22.
Opposition mounted quickly as the mosque’s managing committee approached the Delhi High Court. On Tuesday, Justice Amit Bansal issued notices to the Ministry of Urban Development’s Land and Development Office, MCD, Delhi Development Authority, PWD, and Delhi Waqf Board. The plea demands cancellation of the demolition order, asserting the land as notified waqf property under exclusive Waqf Tribunal jurisdiction.
The committee pays lease rent to the Waqf Board and halted operations at the baraat ghar and clinic, objecting solely to graveyard interference. They argue the 1940 lease safeguards core areas, with encroachments removable but sacred spaces preserved. Delhi Waqf Board records, accessible via official portals, list thousands of properties citywide, emphasizing protection against non-waqf claims. In 2024, the board reported managing over 1,200 assets in Delhi, with disputes often escalating to courts.
This legal pushback illustrates tensions between civic drives and religious endowments. The High Court deemed the matter urgent, requiring responses within four weeks. Historical data from the Land and Development Office indicates Turkman Gate area’s colonial-era leases often blur boundaries, complicating modern enforcement. As proceedings unfold, the anti-encroachment drive’s outcomes hang in balance, potentially setting precedents for similar sites.
| Encroachment Details | Area Affected | Structures Demolished |
|---|---|---|
| Road and Footpath | ~10,000 sq ft | Partial removal |
| Baraat Ghar & Parking | ~15,000 sq ft | Fully demolished |
| Diagnostic Centre & Dispensary | ~13,940 sq ft | Cleared overnight |
| Total | 38,940 sq ft | Per Court Order |
Police Response and Aftermath
- Tear gas dispersed 25-30 stone-pelters; five detained, 100+ videos under review for further arrests.
- FIR under relevant IPC sections; injuries minor, no civilian casualties reported.
Law enforcement acted decisively amid the anti-encroachment drive’s chaos. Police deployed tear gas after stones injured five personnel, containing the mob without escalation. Officer Valsan emphasized the situation’s full control, praising the nighttime timing to avoid daytime hardships. Videos captured bulldozers amid heavy security, with dump trucks hauling debris.
Delhi Police protocols, outlined in official manuals, prioritize minimal force in crowd control, aligning with National Human Rights Commission guidelines. In FY 2024-25, MCD anti-encroachment operations across Delhi reclaimed over 5 lakh sq ft, per civic reports, often facing resistance. Here, rapid response prevented wider unrest, with detentions targeting agitators. Forensic analysis of footage promises accountability, as FIR details assaults on officials.
Community leaders urged calm, noting economic fallout from demolished commercial spaces. Yet, authorities stress reclaiming public land fosters better urban planning. Ramlila Maidan’s restoration could enhance event capacities, benefiting thousands annually. This incident prompts reviews of pre-drive community engagement to avert violence.
| MCD Anti-Encroachment Stats (Delhi, FY 2024-25) | Structures Removed | Area Reclaimed (sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | 1,200 | 2,50,000 |
| Commercial | 850 | 1,80,000 |
| Religious/Community | 150 | 70,000 |
| Total | 2,200 | 5,00,000 |
Historical Context of Turkman Gate Disputes
- Turkman Gate, part of Old Delhi’s walled city, saw 1976 Emergency-era demolitions displacing thousands.
- Ramlila Ground encroachments trace to post-Partition land pressures, per DDA records.
Turkman Gate’s anti-encroachment drive echoes a fraught history. In 1976, during the Emergency, bulldozers razed homes here, displacing 700 families in a controversial push led by then-Lt Governor Jagmohan. Delhi Development Authority archives document ongoing pressures on historic zones, with Ramlila Ground shrinking due to informal expansions since the 1950s.
Post-Independence, population surges fueled encroachments, reducing maidan’s 25-acre core. DDA’s 2023 land audit flagged 15% unauthorized use in Old Delhi. The Syed Faiz Elahi mosque, established pre-1940, anchors community life, but adjacent claims proliferated. Recent drives reflect national campaigns like those under PM Awas Yojana, reclaiming urban commons.
Lessons from past clashes inform current strategies: advance notices, dialogues. Yet, resistance persists, rooted in livelihoods tied to structures. As Delhi’s population hits 22 million per 2025 Census projections, such operations intensify.
Closing Assessment
The anti-encroachment drive near Ramlila Maidan mosque lays bare Delhi’s urban fault lines, where court mandates collide with community stakes. With five officers injured and structures razed per November 2025 orders, authorities reclaimed vital public space, but at the cost of heightened tensions. Ongoing High Court proceedings, due April 22, may refine boundaries between waqf protections and civic needs.
This episode calls for balanced approaches: robust legal enforcement paired with rehabilitation for affected residents. Delhi’s MCD plans further drives, targeting 10 lakh sq ft citywide in 2026, per official targets. Ultimately, reclaiming Ramlila Ground promises safer public venues, yet success hinges on trust-building to prevent repeats of Wednesday’s violence. Transparent processes will define whether such anti-encroachment drives unite or divide.
