Authorities in Delhi recently demolished several structures adjacent to the century-old Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque near Turkman Gate, including a pilgrims’ lodging room, a house, a private diagnostic center, part of a road, a sidewalk, and a parking area. The operation, carried out early Wednesday, led to clashes between police and locals from Tuesday night until dawn, resulting in baton charges, tear gas use, and at least five arrests. The Delhi High Court had earlier issued notices to the municipal corporation and related agencies following a petition by the mosque’s management committee.

The committee stated that the land had long been under its use and that rent was regularly paid to the Delhi Waqf Board. The demolition is viewed as part of a continuing pattern of evictions targeting Muslim communities across India. Similar operations in 2025 destroyed long-standing Muslim settlements in South Delhi’s Jungpura and Govindpuri, displacing hundreds without proper notice or rehabilitation.

Reports note that such demolitions have frequently affected Muslim-majority areas, Dalit neighborhoods, and protest-linked communities, reflecting a broader trend of state-backed displacement in recent years.