At least five police personnel sustained injuries during an early-hours demolition operation conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in the Turkman Gate area near Ramlila Maidan on Wednesday. The incident occurred when a group of individuals resorted to stone-pelting as authorities moved to clear encroachments on a plot of land adjacent to the Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid.
Court-Ordered Action and Elaborate Security
The demolition drive, which commenced around 1 am, was executed following directives from the Delhi High Court. In an official statement, Delhi Police confirmed that the action was undertaken in compliance with the judicial order. Anticipating potential unrest, the police had devised extensive security arrangements for the operation.
The entire zone was segmented into nine sectors, each under the supervision of an Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police. Personnel were strategically deployed at all sensitive locations to maintain law and order and ensure the court-mandated action proceeded without major hindrance. Prior to the drive, police and civic officials held several coordination meetings with the Aman Committee and local stakeholders as a confidence-building measure.
Disturbance and Swift Police Response
Despite these meticulous preparations, a brief period of disturbance erupted when a few alleged miscreants began pelting stones at the police force during the demolition. Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range) Madhur Verma stated that the situation was promptly brought under control using what he described as "measured and minimal use of force." This action prevented any further escalation of the conflict.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Nidhin Valsan confirmed that four to five police personnel received minor injuries in the stone-pelting incident. He emphasized that the demolition process, overall, remained smooth. "The action is still ongoing. MCD is carrying out demolition as per the High Court’s orders on encroached land," DCP Valsan said. He added that footage from CCTV, ground cameras, and body-worn cameras would be scrutinized to identify the culprits and initiate legal proceedings against them.
Scale of Demolition and Parallel Action in Ujjain
Officials reported that a fleet of approximately 17 bulldozers was deployed to raze the unauthorized structures on the encroached land. Delhi Police reiterated its commitment to implementing judicial directives in a lawful and sensitive manner while upholding public order.
In a related development, a separate anti-encroachment drive was conducted earlier this week in Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh. The Ujjain Municipal Corporation demolished an illegal G+3 structure near Mahakal Chowk. Assistant Commissioner Deepak Sharma stated that the building, owned by Noor Jahan, wife of Ghulam Mohammad, was constructed without obtaining mandatory permissions. Despite a notice being served and the matter being taken to court without any stay order, the construction continued, leading to the demolition action with police support. Traffic diversions were implemented at the Ujjain site to facilitate the operation.
The incident at Turkman Gate underscores the tensions that can accompany urban enforcement drives, even those backed by court orders and extensive planning. The police's focus now shifts to investigating the violence and maintaining stability in the area.
