An early morning demolition drive near a prominent mosque in central Delhi turned violent as a group of masked young people pelted stones at police personnel, leaving five injured. The incident, which occurred in the vicinity of the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque adjacent to Ramlila Maidan, has prompted a security review and an investigation into the involvement of outsiders.
Eyewitness Account from Injured Constable
Constable Vikram Antla, one of the five injured police personnel, provided a detailed account of the attack that took place in the early hours of Wednesday, January 8, 2026. "We were instructed to control the crowd at the barricades. It was around 12.30 am, and the demolition had already started," Antla recounted. He described facing aggression from a section of the crowd. "Some young people were very aggressive and were trying to break the barricade," he said. Antla sustained a head injury during the assault.
He specifically noted the age and appearance of the assailants. "Some faces were covered, and some were wearing masks. All the stone pelters were in the 15 to 30 age group," Constable Antla stated, highlighting the youthfulness of the attackers.
Police Probe Outsider Involvement, Detail Injuries
Station House Officer of Chandni Mahal police station, Inspector Mahavir Prasad, who also received an injury on his forehead, confirmed that the mob was not solely composed of local residents. "The mob not only included local residents but some outsiders as well," Inspector Prasad said. He added that the police are working to establish the identity of these outsiders, calling the incident "unexpected."
The injured personnel were deployed at barricades near the mosque at Turkman Gate. Head Constable Jal Singh, who suffered injuries to his waist and back, explained the origin of the projectiles. "The stones were picked up from the road, which had been dug up by a civic agency to repair the sewer line," he said. He pointed out that the stone-pelting originated from the road leading to the residential area of Turkman Gate, which was crowded with locals.
Strategic Deployment and Aftermath
A senior police officer revealed that personnel from the local Chandni Mahal police station were intentionally placed at the front lines due to their familiarity with the residents, a strategy aimed at crowd control. "This is why four of the five injured were from the local police station," the officer explained. The fifth injured is a senior officer from another district.
In the wake of the violence, security has been significantly strengthened in the area. The front gate of the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque, which opens to three roads, remained barricaded as authorities assessed the situation. The incident has drawn attention to the challenges faced during anti-encroachment drives in densely populated and sensitive zones of the national capital.
