Delhi Police have arrested five individuals following an incident of stone-pelting and violence that erupted during an anti-encroachment demolition drive conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in the early hours of Wednesday. The operation took place near the historic Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque located in the Turkman Gate area of Central Delhi.
Sequence of Events and Police FIR Details
According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered at the Chandni Mahal police station, a crowd of approximately 30-35 people began raising slogans against the police administration around 12:40 am. The police, who had set up barricades near Badi Masjid, made announcements using a loud-hailer, informing the assembly about the enforcement of BNSS Section 163 and instructing them to disperse.
The FIR, based on a constable's complaint, states that the crowd did not comply. Instead, they broke through the barricades and initiated stone-pelting. In a significant act of defiance, one person from the crowd snatched the government loud-hailer from the constable's hand and damaged it. The police alleged that the mob obstructed government duty, caused damage to public property including barricades and the loud-hailer, and injured police personnel with stones.
Arrests and Police Response
Following the incident, the Delhi Police swiftly arrested five men allegedly involved in the violence. The arrested individuals have been identified as Sameer, Mohammad Arib, Mohammad Kasif, Mohammad Adnan, and Mohammad Kaif.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Central) Madhur Verma confirmed the arrests, noting that images of other participants have been obtained and further arrests are imminent. Verma stated that the police were fully prepared with a plan, which allowed them to contain the stone-pelting within two to three minutes. He mentioned that meetings had been held with peace committee members prior to the drive, aiming for a peaceful operation. However, he attributed the violence to "a few mischievous elements." Verma added that the possibility of a conspiracy behind the incident cannot be ruled out at this stage.
Context of the Demolition Drive
The demolition targeted structures surrounding a 0.195-acre land tract that houses a dargah and the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque. The structures removed included a baraat ghar (wedding hall) and a dispensary. The mosque itself, which the managing committee claims is over a century old and is a Waqf property, remained untouched during the operation.
The action came after the Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to grant any interim stay on the anti-encroachment drive. The police had begun preparations for the operation from 7 pm on January 6, with bulldozers arriving at the site by 11 pm. The demolition began at midnight, leading to the clash shortly after.
To control the situation, police used mild force and lobbed tear gas shells around 12:50 am. Additional forces were called in, and a combing operation was conducted, bringing the situation under control by approximately 3 am.
Legal Charges Filed
The accused have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984. The charges include:
- BNS Section 221: Obstructing a public servant in discharge of public functions.
- BNS Section 132: Assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from duty.
- BNS Section 121: Voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from duty.
- BNS Section 191: Rioting.
- BNS Section 223(A): Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.
- BNS Section 3(5): Joint liability.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify and apprehend the remaining individuals involved in the incident.
