Delhi demolition: A violent clash ensued during an anti-encroachment drive near a mosque

The national capital saw a violent clash after an anti-encroachment drive near a mosque, where locals threw stones at municipal officials and police teams.

Wednesday morning saw a violent clash erupt in Delhi during an anti-encroachment drive near a mosque. Locals were seen throwing stones at municipal officials and police teams during the demolition on a land adjoining the Syed FaizElahi mosque at RamlilaMaidan.

Demolition drive in Delhi turns violent.

A demolition drive was carried out following orders from the Delhi High Court. At least five police personnel were injured in the intense clash that took place between officials and the locals during the demolition drive. The stone-throwing incident by about 25-30 people created chaos. The police then had to use tear gas to control the situation. In this case, five accused have been detained so far. Last November, the Delhi High Court asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Public Works Department to clear encroachments on about 39,000 sqft of land at the Ramlila Ground near Turkman Gate. The authorities then issued an order to remove the encroachments, including a road, a footpath, a banquet hall, a parking area, and a private diagnostic centre. The mosque committee challenged the order and filed a petition, claiming that the land is a notified Waqf property. The Waqf Act governs it, and only the Waqf Tribunal has jurisdiction to decide such disputes, it argued.

More on the tiff between the MCD and the mosque committee.

The MCD claimed that only 0.195 acres of land on which the mosque stands was leased in 1940, and that it does not cover the adjoining land on which the demolition drive is being undertaken. The petitioner claimed that they have been paying lease rent to the Waqf Board for the use of the land. They claimed they have no objection to the removal of encroachments and stated that the banquet hall and the clinic have already been shut. Their only grievance is the graveyard operating on the land. The MCD last month declared that, in view of the November order, all structures beyond 0.195 acres of land (housing the mosque) will be demolished. It stated that it had received no documentary evidence to establish the managing committee of the mosque or the Delhi Waqf Board’s lawful possession of the land. On January 4, when MCD officials visited the site to mark the encroached area, locals staged protests. Police deployment was then increased to ensure that the officials could carry out the demolitions.

Early on Wednesday morning, municipal officers and workers arrived at the site with 30 bulldozers and 50 dump trucks for the demolition drive.