Tension gripped the narrow lanes of Turkman Gate in Old Delhi late last night when the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) rolled out bulldozers for an anti-encroachment drive near the historic Faiz-e-Elahi mosque, leading to stone-pelting, tear gas deployment, and several detentions.

The operation kicked off around 1 a.m., with over 30 JCBs, excavators, and dump trucks clearing illegal structures on about 38,000 square feet of public land at Ramlila Ground, adjacent to the mosque. Police, including Rapid Action Force (RAF) units, faced a barrage of stones from a crowd, responding with multiple rounds of tear gas shells. Five officers sustained minor injuries, treated on the spot, while at least six protesters were detained—more arrests may follow via CCTV footage.

Triggered by a Delhi High Court order from late 2025 following a public interest litigation, the drive targeted unauthorized shops, a community hall, dispensary, parking zones, and boundary walls beyond the mosque's sanctioned 0.195-acre waqf plot. The mosque committee had filed an urgent plea claiming waqf protection and seeking a stay, but the court allowed the action to proceed while issuing notices for an April hearing. The mosque structure itself remained intact.

Eyewitness videos showed dust clouds rising as machines demolished extensions, with locals voicing frustration over lost community spaces. MCD officials described it as a "smooth" pre-dawn push to reclaim roads and open areas in the densely packed neighborhood, vowing continued vigilance. No major damage to heritage sites was reported, and calm has since returned.

This incident underscores Delhi's ongoing battle against illegal constructions, similar to high-stakes operations in other states. In Old Delhi's historic core, where mosques, markets, and homes jostle for space, such enforcements highlight the challenge of preserving public access without alienating residents—watch for legal fallout in coming weeks.