Ground Report | Two Days After a Demolition Drive Near Faiz-e-Ilahi Masjid
New Delhi: Early morning on January 7, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) conducted a demolition drive to remove structures near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in the Turkman Gate area of Delhi. The alleged encroachments were cleared following a Delhi high court judgment directing the authorities to take “appropriate action.” During the demolition drive, stones were allegedly pelted by some individuals. Soon after, a first information report was registered, at least five people were arrested, and many were detained for questioning.
Authorities claimed that structures only encroaching on government land was being demolished. The mosque management committee had argued in court that the land had been established as waqf property over a century ago.
The episode began in May 2025, when an organisation named Save India Foundation complained to government authorities about alleged encroachments on government land by a community marriage hall, a community diagnostic centre, and a guest house adjacent to the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), MCD and the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs released a Joint Survey Report (JSR), which was later used by Save India Foundation to approach the court.
Notably, Preet Singh, the founder of Save India Foundation, is a controversial figure, having been seen giving multiple hate speeches and organising anti-Muslim events at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and Burari.
“The violence erupted because there were rumours that the main structure of the mosque was being demolished. Outsiders carried out the violence, but locals were blamed. At the same time, residents are distressed as to why charitable facilities meant for the poor in the area were targeted by the authorities,” said Shahzad Khan, a member of Aman Committee. The Aman Committee is an organisation that works as an intermediary between the public and the Delhi Police to ensure peace during matters such as this.
When this reporter visited the demolished site near Ramlila Maidan, carpets, steel gates, and the remains of a demolished kitchen were visible. Utensils, a freezer, and containers were still hanging from the walls of a partially demolished kitchen.
Amidst a heavy deployment of police forces, the atmosphere was that of fear and tension. Two main roads leading into the Turkman Gate area were barricaded by the police. Roads adjacent to the mosque were mostly vacant and occupied mainly by police and media personnel. Police patrolled the streets within a few hundred metres of the locality. Many locals were scared to speak to the media.
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