Clashes Erupt in Delhi as Anti-Encroachment Drive Sparks Tensions Near Historic Mosque

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A heated anti-encroachment drive by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) near the historic Faiz-e-Elahi mosque in Ramlila Maidan turned violent early on Wednesday, leaving five police personnel injured and five people detained. According to officials, the situation escalated into clashes, prompting the police to use teargas shells to disperse the crowds. The Delhi Police stated that normalcy was restored shortly after the incident. The MCD had initiated the demolition drive on the land adjacent to the mosque and a nearby graveyard, citing a notice issued on December 22. The notice declared that structures beyond 0.195 acres were liable to be demolished as part of an encroachment drive. The corporation claimed that no documentary evidence had been produced to verify the ownership or lawful possession of the land by the managing committee of the Delhi Waqf Board. The Faiz-e-Elahi mosque management committee had filed a petition challenging the MCD's decision. The high court had given the corporation and the Delhi Public Works Department three months in November to clear 38,940 sq ft of encroachments at Ramlila Ground near the Turkman Gate. The MCD had begun the demolition drive at 1:30 am, instead of the scheduled 8 am, sparking widespread outrage. In a statement, the Delhi Police assured that the miscreants involved in the clashes would be identified and legal action taken after reviewing CCTV footage, ground footage, and body camera footage. The police also maintained that the overall process was 'smooth,' despite the chaos caused by the clashes.