A pre-dawn demolition drive by Delhi's Municipal Corporation on January 7, 2026, near the historic Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in Turkman Gate sparked clashes, with stone pelters injuring five officers. Police used minimal force including tear gas to restore order, while officials confirmed the mosque remained untouched amid a court-ordered clearance of encroachments.
Tension erupted in Old Delhi's Turkman Gate area early on January 7, 2026, as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) deployed around 17 bulldozers to demolish encroachments near the century-old Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque and a nearby graveyard, pursuant to a November 12, 2025, Delhi High Court order directing the clearance of 38,940 square feet at Ramlila Maidan. Targeted structures included a baraat ghar, dispensary, shops, parking, and a private diagnostic centre on land beyond the mosque's 0.195-acre Waqf plot.
Delhi Police anticipated unrest, dividing the area into nine zones each supervised by an Additional DCP, with coordination meetings held with the Aman Committee and stakeholders. However, miscreants pelted stones at forces, injuring five officers minorly. Officers responded with tear gas and minimal force to regain control. DCP Nidhin Valsan said, “Stones were pelted at the police at night. We used minimal force to push back. Apart from that, the overall process was very smooth… As soon as we get the CCTV camera footage, ground footage and body camera footage, we will identify the miscreants and take legal action.” Joint Commissioner Madhur Verma added that the situation was promptly controlled without escalation.
The mosque's managing committee had challenged an MCD order from December 22, 2025, declaring extra structures encroachments. On January 6, Justice Amit Bansal refused an interim stay, issued notices to MCD, DDA, and others, and set the next hearing for April 22. While an unverified video circulated claiming bulldozer damage to the mosque, officials insisted the Waqf property was intact. Six stone pelters were detained, an FIR filed against unidentified persons, and police plan to use CCTV and body cameras for further identifications. Traffic restrictions continue in the area.
