Demolition Drive Near Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid: Stones Thrown At Cops; 5 Injured

New Delhi

oi-Prakash KL

Four
to
five
police
personnel
suffered
minor
injuries
as
stones
were
pelted
at
them
during
the
demolition
drive
carried
out
by
the
MCD
on
encroached
land
near
Turkman
Gate
in
Delhi
on
Wednesday.

Following
directions
of
the
Delhi
High
Court,
the
MCD
carried
out
the
demolition
drive
at
a
land
adjoining
the
Syed
Faiz
Elahi
mosque
and
graveyard.
However,
some
residents
threw
stones
at
the
personnel,
forcing
the
authorities
to
use
tear
gas
to
bring
the
situation
under
control.

The
authorities
deployed
approximately
17
bulldozers
to
raze
down
the
unauthorised
structures
in
the
area.

“The
action
is
still
ongoing.
MCD
is
doing
the
demolition.
We
have
deployed
our
security
staff.
The
action
started
around
1
am.
MCD
conducted
demolition
as
per
the
High
Court’s
orders
on
the
encroached
land.
Stones
were
pelted
at
the
Police
at
night.
We
used
minimal
force
to
push
back.
Overall,
the
process
was
very
smooth.
Four
to
five
officers
suffered
minor
injuries.
As
soon
as
we
receive
the
CCTV,
ground,
and
body
camera
footage,
we
will
identify
the
perpetrators
and
take
legal
action,” ANI
quoted
Deputy
Commissioner
of
Police
(DCP)
Nidhin
Valsan
as
saying.

The
police
have
said
that
there
is
adequate
security
to
carry
out
the
demolition
drive
in
a
smooth
manner.

Several
rounds
of
meeting
were
held
with
members
of
the
Aman
Committee
and
other
local
stakeholders
to
maintain
peace
and
prevent
any
untoward
incidents.
Central
Range
Joint
Commissioner
of
Police
Madhur
Verma
stated
that
steps
have
been
taken
to
prevent
untoward
incidents.

A
“few
miscreants”
attempted
to
create
a
disturbance
by
stone
pelting,
with
the
situation
being
promptly
brought
under
control
through
“measured
and
minimal
use
of
force”,
as
per
the
officials.

The
statement
added
that
the
Delhi
Police
is
committed
to
maintain
law
and
order
and
to
ensure
all
judicial
directions
are
implemented
in
a
lawful,
professional
and
sensitive
manner.