The Delhi Police on Friday night arrested three more persons in connection with the clashes that broke out during an anti-encroachment drive near a mosque and a graveyard at Delhi’s Turkman Gate on Wednesday, reported The New Indian Express.
With this, the total number of arrests in the case reached 16.
The clashes had broken out when the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was carrying out a demolition drive on land adjoining the Faiz Elahi Mosque and a nearby graveyard.
An unidentified official of the civic body claimed that the mosque was not damaged during the drive.
However, unidentified police officials told PTI that the situation escalated after social media posts claimed that the mosque was being demolished, leading to a large crowd gathering at the site.
They claimed that around 150 to 200 persons were involved in the violence, and six police personnel, including the local station house officer, were injured.
Those arrested on Friday were identified as Mohammad Naved, Mohammad Faiz and Mohammad Ubaidulla. They have been remanded to judicial custody till January 21.
“Further investigation is underway,” Delhi Police Additional Commissioner Nidhin Valsan was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.
He added that the police were searching for 10 more persons suspected to be involved in the violence, The Indian Express reported.
On Friday, a Delhi court remanded eight of those arrested to 12 days of judicial custody, stating that, prima facie, their presence at the site of violence was apparent, PTI reported.
Five others sought bail, alleging assault inside jail premises, following which the court issued notices to the Delhi Police and the jail superintendent, and sought medical records. The case will be heard next on Tuesday.
Police have invoked Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions related to rioting and obstructing public servants, along with section 109, pertaining to attempt to murder.
The demolition drive followed a December 22 order of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi declaring that structures beyond 0.19 acres of land around the mosque were encroachments and liable to be removed.
The civic body said that no documentary evidence had been produced to establish ownership or lawful possession of the land by the mosque’s managing committee or the Delhi Waqf Board. The mosque is located within the 0.19-acre land.
The corporation’s order was issued after a November 12 direction of a division bench of the Delhi High Court, which granted the civic body and the Public Works Department three months to clear 38,940 square feet of encroachments near Ramlila Ground at Turkman Gate.
However, on January 6, the Delhi High Court said that the matter “requires consideration” while hearing a plea filed by the mosque’s managing committee challenging the December 22 order.
You’ve read Scroll.
Now help sustain it
Scroll is funded by readers, not corporate owners. If you believe our work matters, support our newsroom. Become a member today!
We’re not driven by clicks or corporate interests – just honest, independent reporting. Keep us going. Support Scroll today!