The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolished a century-old dargah in Mangolpuri Industrial Area Phase-II in the early hours of Wednesday, May 6, triggering strong protests from local residents and the shrine’s caretakers.
Authorities carried out the operation with heavy police deployment. Three Delhi Police teams were present from 6 am to maintain order and removed locals attempting to protest. The DDA claimed the structure, known as Dargah Panch Peeran, was an unauthorised encroachment on government land.
A spokesperson stated that the demolition was executed only after securing approval from the religious committee and completing all legal formalities. The authority had issued a show cause notice to the occupants in 2024, but their response was deemed insufficient.
“No damage was caused to any other structures or belongings, as the action was limited strictly to the encroached portion,” the spokesperson said.
However, Maqbool Hasan, the dargah caretaker, strongly contested the move. He asserted that the shrine was more than 100 years old and had been maintained by his family for generations.
Hasan alleged that no proper notice was served recently. Police arrived around 4-5 am and allegedly threatened him when he requested time for court proceedings.
Nearly 90 per cent of the structure has been razed. In response, a legal notice has been sent to the Lieutenant Governor, Delhi Police, and DDA officials, arguing that the demolition violated Supreme Court guidelines on places of worship and was carried out without due process.
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com.
