There is still a burning sensation on the face when one enters the lanes of Turkman Gate. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, the site, now almost deserted, witnessed intense tear gas shelling, lathi charge, and stone pelting.
On Tuesday evening, around 8 pm, Delhi Police officials, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials, and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) began gathering near the historic Turkman Gate. Soon after, dozens of bulldozers were seen assembling in the area.
The mobilisation was for carrying out what authorities termed “an anti-encroachment drive” near a century-old mosque at Turkman Gate.
The demolition, which was officially scheduled to begin at 8 am, was instead initiated around 1.30 am, triggering protests from local residents. One of the oldest mosques in Delhi, the Syed Faiz-e-Lahi Mosque, located near Ramlila Maidan, became the epicentre of the unfolding events when authorities moved in to demolish the area adjoining the mosque.
Speaking to Maktoob, Mohammad Ali (name changed on request), an eyewitness to the events, said he was present when the police began gathering and soon after the bulldozers started demolishing structures.
“This area never sleeps. Unlike other places, work goes on here throughout the day. So when mobilisation started around 1–1.30 am, we were all awake. I was standing here when they began demolishing a baarat ghar (wedding hall) and a dispensary,” Ali, a resident of Turkman Gate, said.
He said the mosque is more than a century old and has always existed at the site. What shocked him, he said, was the timing of the demolition. “Why did they come at night? Why did they use brute force to disperse a crowd that was merely upset about the demolition? And why was curfew imposed?” he asked.
According to eyewitnesses, the situation grew tense as heavy security was deployed across the area. When people began gathering outside the mosque to protest the demolition, they were met with force.
Shahazana, a housewife in her 70s, said the police fired tear gas shells continuously for about three hours. “It was extremely cold, and everyone was coughing because of the intensity of the tear gas,” she said.
“Many people were injured, but they did not stop. Along with tear gas shelling, they also resorted to lathi charge. It was the police who started pelting stones first, after which the youth responded by pelting stones back,” she alleged.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range) Madhur Verma said the anti-encroachment drive was carried out “pursuant to the directions of the High Court of Delhi,” adding that extensive security arrangements were put in place to ensure the drive was conducted smoothly.
When the correspondent reached the site, bulldozers were still operating, clearing debris from the demolished structures.
Residents also questioned why the demolitions were carried out when the High Court had already fixed a date for a hearing in April.
“Do they just want to eradicate Muslims? Is that it? We never had conflicts with people from other communities, but this Hindutva government is hell-bent on destroying our homes,” Sana, a young woman from the area, told the reporter.
On December 22, 2025, the MCD issued a notice stating that all structures beyond 0.195 acres, the area housing the mosque, were liable to be demolished as part of the anti-encroachment drive. The notice claimed that no documentary proof had been produced to establish lawful ownership or possession of the remaining land by the mosque’s managing committee or the Delhi Waqf Board.
However, locals have termed this claim false, asserting that they possess all necessary documents to prove lawful possession of the land.
The municipal action followed a High Court order dated November 12, 2025, which directed the MCD and the Public Works Department (PWD) to clear 38,940 square feet of encroachments at Ramlila Ground near Turkman Gate within three months.
On Sunday, residents had objected to MCD officials visiting the site to mark the allegedly encroached area, following which authorities ensured heavy police deployment ahead of Wednesday’s demolition drive.
The “anti-encroachment drive” was carried out even as the Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice on a petition filed by the mosque’s managing committee challenging the MCD’s decision to remove alleged encroachments from land adjoining Masjid Syed Elahi and a kabristan (graveyard).
The High Court bench observed that the matter required consideration and directed the MCD and the Land and Development Office (L&DO) to file their responses, listing the matter for hearing on April 22.
Amiuddin, an elderly resident, said that a nearby temple was encroaching on land and causing severe congestion on the road, yet remained untouched. “Anyone can see the condition of the road. The temple also shelters all kinds of criminals, but it is the structures near the mosque that are being demolished. There are shops lined up along the temple as well,” he said.
After the protest, police detained more than 25 people, according to a lawyer present at the site.
Danish, a lawyer who visited the area along with two others, said police fired tear gas inside residential houses. “After tear gas was thrown inside homes, people began suffocating and ran outside, at which point the police arrested the men,” he told Maktoob.
Danish further said that people who were working outside or returning home, since the area remains active throughout the day, were also arrested. “This is not arrest; this is illegal detention,” he said, before leaving to visit local police stations.
Police later stated that FIRs had been registered under charges including rioting, obstructing public servants in the discharge of duty, destruction of government property, and causing hurt to public servants on duty.
The situation worsened further when Hindutva YouTube channels and several mainstream news channels began spreading hate-filled content to provoke the crowd. The police, instead of intervening, warned journalists speaking to residents to leave the area, saying, “These people could get out of control and harm you.”
The atmosphere of hate amplified by Hindu right-wing YouTubers became so intense that arguments broke out among people, until a local civilian urged the police to intervene and control the crowd.
The post “They fired tear gas inside our homes”: Midnight demolition near Turkman Gate mosque sparks protests appeared first on Maktoob media.
