On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) conducted a significant demolition in the Turkman Gate area of Old Delhi. This operation targeted illegal encroachments on land near the historic Masjid Syed Faiz-e-Elahi and the nearby Ramlila Maidan. The operation began around 1:00 AM and removed about 36,000 square feet of encroached land.
It faced strong local opposition, resulting in violent clashes, stone-throwing, and the detention of several individuals. Core Details of the Operation Targeted Structures: The demolition focused on illegal commercial and community buildings.These included a banquet hall, a dispensary, a diagnostic center, and a community hall (barat ghar), which a court had declared unauthorized.
Heavy Machinery Deployment: Authorities used a large fleet of equipment. This included 32 JCB bulldozers, 4 Poclain excavators, pneumatic hammers, and gas-cutting machines. Personnel Involved: More than 50 MCD officials and 300 workers received support from hundreds of Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel.
Status of the Mosque: Officials from both the MCD and the Delhi Police confirmed that the Faiz-e-Elahi Mosque remained untouched and undamaged during the operation. Legal Background and Judicial MandateThe drive followed orders from the Delhi High Court. Court Orders: On November 12, 2025, a division bench directed the MCD and PWD to clear nearly 39,000 sq. ft. of encroachments at Ramlila Ground within three months. The “0.195 Acre” Dispute: On December 22, 2025, the MCD stated that any structure beyond the 0.195-acre area (approximately 8,500 sq. ft.) listed in historical lease documents was an encroachment.
Recent Plea: On January 6, 2026, the High Court denied an interim stay on the demolition. They asked for responses from the Ministry of Urban Development and the Delhi Waqf Board for a hearing set for April 22, 2026. Violent Clashes and Law Enforcement The early timing of the drive aimed to reduce public disruption, but tensions rose quickly.
Injuries: At least five police officers, including a Station House Officer (SHO), were injured due to stone-throwing and glass bottles thrown by protestors. Police Response: Security forces deployed tear gas shells and a controlled lathi-charge to break up the crowd and restore order. Detentions and FIRs: Police filed an FIR under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to rioting, obstructing public servants (Section 221), and assault (Section 132).
At least 10 individuals were detained, and several identified offenders are currently being tracked using CCTV and body-camera footage. Traffic and Public Impact To manage the operation, the Delhi Traffic Police issued extensive advisories: Route Closures: Sections from Kamla Market roundabout to Asaf Ali Road and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Marg were closed to vehicles. Congestion: Significant delays occurred on JLN Marg, Ajmeri Gate, and Minto Road throughout the morning. Debris Removal: Officials estimate that the debris from the demolished structures will fill around 250 to 300 trucks. Clearing the site is expected to take several more days
How it Went Down: The Operation
What Got Wrecked
Delhi demolition drive updates: An anti-encroachment drive was carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) near the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan early on Wednesday. The demolition drive, on the land adjoining the mosque and a nearby graveyard at Turkman Gate, turned violent even as clashes erupted, leading to five police personnel sustaining injuries, officials said.
Five persons were detained following the incident, Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range), Madhur Verma told reporters, according to ANI news agency. He said that the police had also obtained images of the rest of those involved, and they would be arrested soon.
In a statement, the Delhi Police said teargas shells had been used to disperse the crowds, adding that normalcy was restored shortly after the incident. “Stones were pelted at the police at night. We used minimal force to push back. Apart from that, the overall process was very smooth…” DCP Nidhin Valsan told ANI news agency.
Valsan further said that the miscreants would be identified and legal action taken after the CCTV footage, ground footage and body camera footage is obtained.
The demolition was supposed to begin at 8 am but was started at 1.30 am instead.
Petition filed by mosque against MCD drive
A petition was filed by the managing committee of Masjid Syed Elahi, challenging the MCD’s decision to remove alleged encroachments from the land adjoining the mosque and graveyard located at Ramlila Maidan.
The MCD had, on December 22, issued notice declaring that all structures beyond 0.195 acres were liable to be demolished, as part of an encroachment drive. The corporation concluded that no documentary evidence had been produced to verify the ownership or lawful possession of the land by the managing committee of the Delhi Waqf Board. The 0.195-acre land mentioned above houses the mosque.
The MCD decision came after the high court had, in November, given the corporation and the Delhi Public Works Department three months to clear 38,940 sq ft of encroachments at Ramlila Ground near the Turkman Gate.
The FIR has been registered against Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 221 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 132 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 121 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 191 (Rioting), 223 (A) (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 3(5) (Joint liability) and provisions of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.
Constable Sandeep stated that around 12.40 am, the SHO and other police personnel were putting up barricades when a crowd of around 30–35 people approached, raising slogans against the police administration. He said he could identify Mohammad Sameer, Mohammad Areeb, Mohammad Kasif, Mohammad Adnan and Mohammad Kaif among the crowd.
Despite repeated announcements on a loudhailer by the SHO informing the crowd that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS were in force and asking them to disperse, the mob refused to comply. The accused allegedly broke the barricades and began pelting stones. One person allegedly snatched the loudhailer from constable Sandeep and damaged it.
In the stone-pelting, head constable Jai Singh, constable Vikram, constable Ravindra and the SHO sustained injuries. With the help of additional police force, the crowd was dispersed, and the injured personnel were admitted to hospital. Constable Sandeep said he could identify the named accused and other participants if produced before him.
The FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984.
DELHI POLICE PROBING SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT
The Delhi Police also said it was monitoring social media activity closely, as several videos and posts were allegedly circulated to spread rumours and incite people.
Most photos and videos on social media accessed by India Today TV claimed that the mosque was being demolished and urged people to gather at the site. Some posts appealed to users to share the videos “as widely as possible”, while others carried religious appeals such as “May Allah protect you”, police sources said.
One of the videos that sparked controversy was allegedly made by one Khalid Malik, who, according to police, appealed to Muslims to come out of their homes in large numbers by spreading rumours that bulldozers were being deployed to demolish the mosque. Police said the video contributed to tension in the area.
CONCLUSION:
Court Mandate Meets Resistance in Old Delhi
The pre-dawn demolition drive at Turkman Gate on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, marks yet another flashpoint in the capital’s ongoing battle against illegal encroachments. While the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) successfully reclaimed approximately 39,000 square feet of land in compliance with the Delhi High Court’s November directive, the operation was marred by violent clashes that left at least five police personnel injured.
Authorities have maintained that the sanctity of the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque was preserved and that the action was strictly limited to unauthorized commercial extensions, including a banquet hall and dispensary on public land. However, the stone-pelting and subsequent police retaliation—involving tear gas and detentions—highlight the deep-seated mistrust and tension often accompanying such civic actions in sensitive neighborhoods.
As an uneasy calm returns to the Ramlila Maidan area under heavy security deployment, the focus now shifts to the legal and political fallout. With the Delhi Police registering FIRs against rioters and political voices calling for Supreme Court intervention, the dust may have settled on the debris, but the controversy surrounding the drive is far from over.
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