Delhi Police Files FIR, Detains 5 After Stone-Pelting Violence in Anti-Encroachment Drive Near Syed Faiz Elahi Mosque at Turkman Gate
The Delhi Police registered an FIR on Wednesday and detained five people amid the violence that erupted during an anti-encroachment drive near the Syed Faiz Elahi Mosque in Delhi.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) January 7: The Delhi Police registered an FIR on Wednesday and detained five people linked to the violence that broke out after an anti-encroachment drive near the Syed Faiz Elahi Mosque in Delhi.
Five Police Personnel Injured in Stone-Pelting Chaos
At least five police personnel were injured after a violent anti-encroachment drive in front of a mosque in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan area took place in the early hours of Wednesday.
The clashes started after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) mounted a demolition drive in the encroached area near Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid, Turkman Gate, near Ramlila Maidan.
"In order to ensure smooth conduct of the demolition programme and to maintain public order, comprehensive law and order arrangements were put in place by Delhi Police. The entire area was meticulously divided into nine zones, each placed under the supervision of an officer of the rank of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police. Adequate deployment of police force was made at all sensitive points," the Delhi Police said.
FIR Under BNS and PDPP Act; Situation Returns to Normalcy
Some reportedly resorted to stone pelting during the operation, leading to chaos at the venue. The incident was soon followed by a return to normalcy, police stated in a statement.
Head constable Jai Singh, constable Vikram, constable Ravindra and the SHO had been injured in the stone-pelting. The crowd was dispersed by an extra police force with the injured personnel being admitted to hospital.
The FIR has been registered in relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984.
Pre-Drive Meetings with Aman Committee Ensure Coordination
Before the demolition drive, meetings were held with the Aman Committee and other local stakeholders for coordination so that tranquility may be maintained without incident. Preventative and confidence enhancing measures were pursued.
The few miscreants did try to disrupt the peace through stone pelting, and the situation was quickly mended by measured and minimal use of force, officials said.
Delhi HC Seeks Responses on Plea Challenging Encroachment Order
On Tuesday, 6 January 2026, the Delhi High Court sought the responses of the Ministry of Urban Development, MCD and the Delhi Waqf Board on a plea challenging an order issued by authorities to remove alleged encroachments from land adjoining the Syed Faiz Elahi mosque and graveyard at Turkman Gate in Delhi.
The court said the matter requires consideration and asked the authorities to give their replies in four weeks. It scheduled the case for further hearing on 22 April.
Waqf Board Challenged on Land Possession Documents
The petition has challenged the MCD’s 2025 order dated December 22 that all structures beyond 0.195 acres of land are liable to be demolished and that no documents have been produced to establish whether or not the managing committee at the mosque or the Delhi Waqf Board has legal possession of the land. The mosque is situated on a 0.195-acre plot.
The decision was made by the MCD in terms of an order dated November 12, 2025 given by a division Bench of the high court, granting three months both to the civic body and the PWD to clear 38,940 sq. ft of encroachment at the Ramlila Ground, Turkman Gate.
