Turkman Gate stone-pelting case: police identify 30 people; Samajwadi Party MP to be questioned

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Delhi Police said on Thursday that they have identified 30 people involved in the violence that broke out during a civic body anti-encroachment drive near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in the Turkman Gate area. The identification has been made using CCTV footage, body-worn camera recordings of police personnel, and videos circulating from the area.

Police officials stated that Samajwadi Party MP Mohibullah Nadvi will soon be issued a summons to join the investigation, as he was allegedly present at the spot before the violence began. According to the police, senior officers had requested the MP to stay away from the area, but he remained nearby ahead of the incident.

So far, five people have been arrested in connection with the stone-pelting during the encroachment removal operation near the mosque. Multiple police teams have been formed, and raids are underway to detain the remaining identified individuals. The FIR accessed by a news agency details the sequence of events, from police barricading the encroached land to provocative slogans raised by local people, followed by stone-pelting at police personnel.

Police personnel were trying to explain to locals that the demolition drive was limited to illegal constructions and encroachments on government land, and that no harm would be caused to the nearby mosque. As per the FIR, around 12:40 pm, when police began barricading the area, a group of 30–35 people gathered, raised slogans, and attempted to stop the police from sealing the site.

The crowd was informed that Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), applicable in cases of unlawful assembly or potential danger, was in force and that they should disperse immediately. However, instead of calming down, the crowd became more aggressive, intensified sloganeering, and started pelting stones at police personnel.

Videos showing stone-pelting and damage to police barricades surfaced on social media, triggering public anger over direct attacks on on-duty police staff. The FIR states that one protester snatched and broke a loudspeaker. The mob not only obstructed police personnel but also damaged barricades and attacked them with stones.

Several policemen, including the station house officer (SHO), were injured in the attack and were later admitted to LNJP Hospital. After additional police force was deployed, the violent protesters were pushed back, and illegal structures around the religious site were demolished.

The FIR names five accused Mohammad Shahnawaz, Mohammad Arib, Mohammad Kasif, Mohammad Adnan, and Mohammad Kaif, all reported to be residents of the Chandni Mahal area.