Five individuals have been arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with the violence that broke out during a court-ordered anti-encroachment and demolition drive near a mosque in Turkman Gate. Police officials said that investigations have revealed the presence of Mohibullah Nadvi, a Member of Parliament from the Samajwadi Party, at the site of the incident, and alleged that he played a role in provoking and inciting the crowd.
Addressing the media, Madhur Verma, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), stated that five accused have been formally arrested so far and that the investigation is continuing to uncover whether there was a broader conspiracy behind the violence. He added that strict action would be taken against anyone found to have encouraged or instigated the unrest.
The violence erupted when personnel from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi were carrying out a demolition drive on land adjoining the Syed Faiz Elahi Mosque and a nearby graveyard. During the operation, some members of the crowd allegedly began pelting stones and glass bottles at the police force deployed at the site. As a result, at least five police personnel sustained injuries.
According to police, those allegedly involved in throwing stones at the police have been identified as Adil Qasim, Mohammad Kaif, Mohammad Arib, Ujaif, Azim, and Irfan. In addition, two other accused, Adnan and Sameer, are alleged to have created and circulated videos and audio messages that later went viral on WhatsApp, contributing to the spread of tension and unrest in the area.
The demolition drive began around 1 am and was conducted to remove unauthorised constructions, many of which were reportedly over 100 years old. The action followed a specific order of the Delhi High Court. The MCD’s decision was in line with a November 12, 2025 directive issued by a division bench of the High Court, which had granted three months to the civic body and the Public Works Department to clear approximately 38,940 square feet of encroached land near the Ramlila Ground close to Turkman Gate.
After the court order, MCD officials visited the location on January 4 to mark the encroached areas. However, they reportedly faced resistance from local residents, prompting authorities to deploy additional police personnel in anticipation of possible law and order issues.
The Delhi Police also said they are closely monitoring social media platforms as part of their investigation. Officials noted that several photos, videos, and posts were circulated online with the alleged intent of spreading rumours and provoking people. Many of these posts claimed that the mosque was being demolished and urged people to gather at the site in large numbers. Some messages appealed for widespread sharing of the content, while others included religious slogans and emotional appeals, according to police sources.
One particularly controversial video was allegedly made by a person identified as Khalid Malik. Police said the video urged members of the Muslim community to come out of their homes in large numbers by falsely claiming that bulldozers were being used to demolish the mosque. Investigators believe that this video significantly contributed to the escalation of tension in the area.
An official from the MCD later clarified that the Syed Faiz Elahi Mosque itself was not damaged during the demolition drive. Reacting to the incident, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, a Delhi minister, said the encroachment removal was carried out strictly in accordance with the court’s directions and emphasised that it was the responsibility of the police to ensure the implementation of judicial orders.
Earlier, police had stated that five people were initially detained for questioning and that CCTV footage from the area was being examined to verify the sequence of events and identify those involved.
Security has since been tightened around Turkman Gate as a precautionary measure. MCD officials said that more than 300 workers and officials were deployed during the overnight operation. Around 30 bulldozers and 50 dumpers were used to demolish illegal structures and remove debris from the site. The drive resulted in the clearance of a substantial encroached area that had been declared illegal by the court.
Police officials said that law and order arrangements remain in place, but the situation is currently under control and normalcy has been restored. Meanwhile, the investigation continues, with authorities examining allegedly inflammatory social media content and pursuing further leads related to the violence.
