By Drishti Jain , Alok Singh
Delhi Police have arrested five people and lodged an FIR after a demolition drive by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Wednesday around the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in Turkman Gate turned violent, with locals allegedly pelting stones and police using mild tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Around 1 am, 30 bulldozers arrived at the site, amidst heavy security deployment, and locals allegedly pelted stones at the forces. A total of five policemen, including the SHO, were injured. They were later taken to a hospital from where they are discharged after treatment.
Police as well as Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood maintained that the action was being taken in compliance with directions of the court.
Police said identification of others involved in the alleged stone pelting is ongoing. “We are cross checking with CCTV footage,” said DCP (Central), Nidhin Valsan.
The FIR has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 221 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 121 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 191 (rioting), 223 (A) (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 3(5) (joint liability) and provisions of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.
“The demolition drive near Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid was carried out by the MCD in compliance with the Delhi High Court’s directions, with comprehensive law-and-order arrangements in place. The situation was brought under control after a brief disturbance, and normalcy was restored with minimal use of force,” said Madhur Verma, Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range), Delhi.
This story was originally published in indianexpress.com. Read the full story here.
