Five Delhi Police personnel injured as anti-encroachment drive near Mosque turns violent

At least five police personnel were injured during an anti-encroachment drive near Syed Faiz Elahi Mosque and a nearby graveyard at Turkman Gate , Delhi, after a small group resorted to stone-pelting , officials said.

The demolition was carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) following directions from the Delhi High Court to remove illegal encroachments on the site. Authorities said the violence erupted when 25–30 people attacked police and MCD officials with stones as they arrived with JCBs. Five police officers sustained minor injuries and were treated at a nearby hospital.

Police had taken extensive preventive measures , including deployment of senior officers across multiple zones , coordination with local peace committees , and prior communication to residents about the court-ordered demolition . Despite these efforts, a section of the crowd became violent, which was swiftly controlled using measured force . Normalcy was restored shortly after the incident.

Five people have been detained in connection with the stone-pelting, police said. CCTV and drone footage , along with social media videos, are being examined, and action will be taken against anyone found guilty , the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central District, Nidhin Valsan, added.

BJP leaders emphasised that the demolition was lawful and court-mandated. MP Praveen Khandelwal said the action followed High Court orders, while Shahnawaz Hussain, BJP National Spokesperson, condemned the stone-pelting, describing it as “unacceptable,” and reiterated that illegally built structures will be demolished.

Authorities indicated that future measures could include better public communication, stronger crowd management, coordination with community leaders, increased use of technology like drones and CCTV, and prompt legal action against miscreants, to prevent such clashes during sensitive demolition drives .