---

Clashes broke out on Wednesday as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi began demolishing structures beyond 0.19 acres near Turkman Gate mosque, following a High Court directive

---

At least five police officers were injured after violence erupted during an anti-encroachment operation near a mosque in central Delhi on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported.

The incident took place in the Ramlila Maidan area when the Municipal Corporation of Delhi began a demolition drive on land adjacent to the Faiz Elahi Mosque and a nearby graveyard at Turkman Gate.

A civic body official, who was not identified, told PTI that the mosque itself was not damaged during the operation.

Delhi Police detained five people in connection with the clashes and registered a first information report, The Indian Express reported. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan told the newspaper that “the five were detained based on beat intelligence for questioning and to cross check with CCTV footage,” adding that police were working to identify others involved.

The FIR includes charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for obstructing a public servant, using assault or criminal force to deter a public servant, voluntarily causing hurt to prevent a public servant from carrying out their duties, rioting and disobeying a public servant’s order. Provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act have also been invoked.

Valsan told PTI that the municipal corporation had planned the demolition for the intervening night between Tuesday and Wednesday, and police were deployed at the site in advance.

He said about 100 to 150 people gathered at the location when demolition equipment was about to be brought in.

Madhur Verma, Joint Commissioner of Police for the Central Range, was quoted by The Hindu as saying that “a few miscreants” attempted to disrupt the operation by pelting stones.

“The situation was promptly brought under control through measured and minimal use of force, ensuring that normalcy was restored without escalation,” Verma said, according to the newspaper.

The demolition followed a December 22 order by the municipal corporation declaring that structures extending beyond 0.19 acres around the mosque constituted encroachments and were liable to removal, The Hindu reported.

According to the civic body, no documents had been submitted to prove ownership or legal possession of the disputed land by the mosque’s managing committee or the Delhi Waqf Board. The mosque itself falls within the 0.19-acre area.

The December order stemmed from a November 12 directive by a division bench of the Delhi High Court, which gave the municipal corporation and the Public Works Department three months to remove 38,940 square feet of encroachments near Ramlila Ground at Turkman Gate, the newspaper said.

However, on Tuesday, the High Court said the matter “requires consideration” while hearing a petition filed by the mosque’s managing committee challenging the civic body’s December 22 order.