A demolition drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to remove alleged illegal constructions near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in central Delhi’s Turkman Gate area sparked clashes and stone-pelting on Tuesday, forcing police to use tear gas to bring the situation under control. Five police personnel were injured in the violence.
Multiple videos of the incident went viral on social media, showing a mob hurling stones as security forces tried to disperse the crowd. After analysing CCTV footage and body-worn camera recordings, police arrested five people for allegedly pelting stones at police and security personnel. The accused—Kashif, Mohd Kaif, Mohammad Areeb, Adnan and Sameer—are residents of Chandni Mahal and Daryaganj.
A senior police officer said that ahead of the demolition, authorities had held discussions with local residents and informed them about the court order mandating the action. However, when the MCD launched the drive with around 17 bulldozers, a crowd of nearly 150 people gathered at the site. Soon after, 30–35 individuals allegedly began throwing stones at the police. According to the FIR, police teams reached the spot and erected barricades to control the situation.
Drones, videos to aid identification
Police said that when the crowd swelled, the station house officer used a megaphone to announce the imposition of BNSS Section 163—granting powers to issue orders in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger—and asked people to disperse. The crowd allegedly refused to comply, broke barricades and intensified stone-pelting. During the chaos, one person reportedly snatched and damaged the megaphone.
Several policemen, including the SHO, sustained injuries. Police then used force to disperse the mob, after which the demolition drive resumed. “The situation was swiftly brought under control using measured force, restoring normalcy without further escalation,” an officer said.
To identify more suspects, police deployed camera-equipped drones and are scrutinising videos circulating on social media. “These inputs will help us identify others involved in the stone-pelting,” police said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan said a case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 221 (obstructing a public servant), Section 132 (assault to deter a public servant), Section 121 (causing hurt to a public servant), Section 191 (rioting), Section 223(A) (disobedience of an official order) and Section 36 (common intention). Charges under Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984, have also been added.
A special investigation team led by an ACP-rank officer, along with an inspector and four sub-inspectors, has been constituted to probe the stone-pelting. Police said some of the accused allegedly recorded and circulated videos themselves, urging others to join the protest.
