Delhi Turkman Gate stone pelting: Police register FIR against unknown persons, 10 detained

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Tension prevailed in Delhi’s Turkman Gate area following an anti-encroachment drive, after which a stone-pelting incident was reported. Delhi Police have registered an FIR against unknown persons in connection with the incident and detained around 10 people. Police officials shared this information on Wednesday morning.

According to the police, security has been tightened near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in the Turkman Gate area, where the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) carried out an encroachment removal operation late at night. An FIR has been lodged against unidentified individuals involved in the stone pelting. CCTV footage and body camera recordings are being examined to identify those responsible.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Nidhin Walsan said that during the operation, officials interacted with local residents and showed them the Delhi High Court’s orders, after which many people left the area. However, some individuals later returned and resorted to stone pelting.

On the demolition drive, Deputy Commissioner Vivek Agarwal stated that nearly 85 percent of the demolition work has been completed. Only a small structure remains. He added that the remaining portion could also be demolished at night, but heavy debris had blocked access for machines. Once the debris is cleared, the remaining structure will also be removed.

Meanwhile, reacting to the late-night bulldozer action, a local shopkeeper said he has been selling coconuts near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Dargah for a long time along with his wife. He supported the government’s action and claimed that money was being collected from weddings held there, but it was not going to the mosque, madrasa or any religious institution. He said the government should investigate where that money was going.