Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood on Wednesday said the incident of stone pelting during removal of encroachment near Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in Turkman Gate area was “unfortunate”. He warned that violence would not be tolerated.
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials were carrying out demolition action as per the court order on the land adjacent to the mosque and the nearby graveyard when some people pelted stones and threw glass bottles at the policemen, injuring at least five policemen.
Tear gas shells were fired to disperse the crowd and restore order.
Police said five people have been detained for questioning and to match the CCTV footage.
The police officer said that efforts are on to identify the people involved in stone pelting. The police are also investigating whether the violence was sudden or a pre-planned attempt to disrupt the demolition operation.
Senior police officials said CCTV footage and video clips circulated on social media are being analyzed to identify the miscreants. Apart from this, statements of witnesses and detained persons are also being recorded.
Indian Judicial Code (BNS) sections 221 (obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his public functions), 132 (assault or criminal force to prevent a public servant from discharging his duty), 121 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty), 191 (rioting), 223 (A) (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant) and 3(5) (joint liability) and public property. An FIR has been registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Injury to Persons Act, 1984.
Meanwhile, an MCD official clarified that there was no damage to the Syed Faiz Ilahi Mosque during the demolition operation.
The municipal corporation said the drive was carried out in compliance with the directions of the Delhi High Court.
As part of the operation, around 30 bulldozers and 50 dumpers were deployed to remove encroachment and then debris.
MCD officials said the operation continued throughout the night and involved more than 300 MCD employees and officials.
The anti-encroachment drive resulted in the eviction of a large area in which structures were built that were declared illegal by the court.
Police said that law and order is intact in the area.
“The situation is under control and normalcy has been restored,” a senior official said. Strict legal action will be taken against those found involved in violence.