Old Delhi witnessed tense clashes on Wednesday between police and local residents following a demolition drive near a century-old mosque. The municipal authorities’ actions sparked outrage among residents and the mosque’s administration.
The confrontations occurred near the Faiz Ilahi Mosque in Turkman Gate after authorities began demolishing structures they claimed were encroaching on public land. Residents and mosque officials vehemently opposed the demolition, asserting that the buildings stand on legitimate Islamic endowment (Waqf) land.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that protesters threw stones at police officers, resulting in injuries to at least five security personnel. Police responded by deploying tear gas to disperse the demonstrators and regain control of the situation. A significant security presence remains in the area.
Municipal authorities maintain that several buildings surrounding the mosque are illegal constructions. However, the mosque administration insists that the land belongs to Islamic endowments governed by the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937, and any disputes concerning it should be adjudicated by the Waqf Tribunal.
These events occur amidst ongoing accusations against Indian authorities for allegedly targeting Muslim properties, including homes, businesses, and places of worship, under the guise of legal violations. Such accusations are particularly prevalent in states governed by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The demolition drive was reportedly scheduled to begin at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, but bulldozers arrived at the site late at night, around 1:30 AM, further exacerbating the anger and resentment among the residents. Police have stated that the demolition was carried out based on court orders.
