New Delhi – Events at central Delhi’s Turkman Gate unfolded rapidly overnight, culminating in a dramatic confrontation as bulldozers at Turkman Gate razed multiple structures. The operation, which began late Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning, witnessed stone pelting by some local residents that triggered a lathi charge and tear-gas shelling by police. By Wednesday morning, authorities had demolished a banquet hall, a private diagnostics centre, a room used by Haj pilgrims, portions of a road, a footpath, and a car park. The swift action resulted in the arrest of five people and left the local community in shock.
Court Hearing Precedes Demolition Action
The developments leading to bulldozers at Turkman Gate began on Tuesday around 3:30pm when the high court issued a notice to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and other requisite agencies. The notice came in response to a petition filed by the managing committee of Masjid Syed Elahi challenging the MCD’s decision to remove encroachments abutting the century-old mosque. The mosque committee contended that the property in question was being used by them and lease rent was regularly paid to the Delhi Waqf Board, raising questions about the classification of the structures as encroachments.
Massive Security Deployment for Operation
By 10:30pm Tuesday, authorities had positioned 32 bulldozers at Turkman Gate, ready to commence the demolition operation. Assessing the possibility of tensions and potential resistance, police deployed substantial security forces starting around 11pm. The deployment included nine additional commissioners of police, 25 assistant commissioners across nine zones, approximately 800 personnel from local police stations, and 10 companies of paramilitary forces. Locals also began gathering around the mosque by 11:30pm, sensing the impending action.
Timeline of Violent Confrontation
Around 1am, as bulldozers at Turkman Gate prepared to begin operations, authorities asked locals to leave the premises through loudspeaker announcements. Approximately 150 people had gathered and were raising slogans when, according to police, about 25-30 individuals started pelting stones at police personnel. A senior police officer stated that stone pelting continued until approximately 1:20am, prompting the use of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. JCB machines were then called in, and demolition began around 1:30am.
Also Read: Turkman Gate Demolition: Shocking Pre-Dawn Raid Sparks Violent Clashes
Conflicting Accounts of Events
However, locals contested the police version of events surrounding bulldozers at Turkman Gate. Residents maintained that while they were protesting and raising slogans, police used tear gas shells to disperse crowds first, and the stone pelting was retaliatory in nature. Mohammed Zuhaib, 43, who runs a shop in the neighborhood and lives about 30 metres from the mosque, alleged that police threw tear gas shells into people’s houses on the residential street. “Till 3:30am, they must have used at least 50 tear gas shells. My children couldn’t sleep all night and they had a headache and watery eyes,” he stated.
Local Committee Member’s Perspective
Mohammed Shehzad, 48, a member of the Aman Committee, a local group, claimed that most stone pelters were “outsiders” and only a few may have been locals. Regarding the bulldozers at Turkman Gate operation, Shehzad explained that meetings had been held for a week with police. “On Monday, they showed us a map showing what all will be demolished and assured us that the mosque will not be touched. The information was then shared with locals and they were told to cooperate with the police. And they did. A few outsiders probably came here and created disturbance,” he said.
Impact on Local Healthcare Services
The arrival of bulldozers at Turkman Gate particularly impacted local residents who depended on the demolished dispensary for affordable healthcare. Zuhaib explained how the facility served vulnerable populations: “My mother is undergoing treatment for depression. I used to take her to a doctor in south Delhi where the consultation was ₹2,500. A psychiatrist eventually started visiting here in this dispensary and I took my mother here. The consultation was ₹50.” Locals reported that the dispensary charged only ₹100 for dialysis and X-Ray services each, making it crucial for economically disadvantaged families.
MCD’s Official Justification
An MCD spokesperson defended the deployment of bulldozers at Turkman Gate, explaining that the MCD operates as a licensee of the Ramleela Ground under the Land & Development Office, Government of India. Following a complaint, MCD conducted an encroachment survey of Ramleela Ground in coordination with L&DO and DDA officers. “The survey revealed that the encroachment of approximately 36,428 sq.ft. of Ramleela Ground by way of a banquet hall and other commercial activities including a private diagnostic centre. The survey also revealed the encroachment of road and footpath,” the spokesperson stated.
Five Arrests and Family Denials
Following the bulldozers at Turkman Gate operation, police registered an FIR on charges of rioting and arrested five men—Mohammed Kashif, his brother Mohammed Kaif, Mohammed Areeb, Mohammed Adnan, and Mohammed Sameer, all between 20 and 30 years old and residents of neighboring Chandni Mahal and Darya Ganj areas. However, family members strongly denied their involvement in the violence.
Families Contest Arrest Circumstances
Family members of those arrested during the bulldozers at Turkman Gate operation claimed their relatives were picked up before the clash occurred and without proper evidence. A cousin of Adnan said that around 12:30am, Adnan had been at home caring for his ill father when police took him to Daryaganj Police Station for enquiry. “We were informed by the police that Adnan had forwarded some message on WhatsApp that said ‘police have come to the Masjid.’ We don’t know much about the messages as his phone has been seized by the police,” the cousin said.
Questions About Pre-Emptive Detentions
The maternal uncle of Kashif and Kaif contested their arrest related to the bulldozers at Turkman Gate incident. He explained they spoke over phone about the unsafe atmosphere and decided the family should stay at their maternal grandmother’s place. “Both Kashif and Kaif along with their mother and sister were on their way when they were picked up by the police in the same locality,” he stated, suggesting the arrests occurred before any violent incidents transpired.
