Portions of Mosque Demolished Amid Heavy Police Presence in Midnight Drive in Delhi

In a late-night anti-encroachment drive, local municipal authorities demolished portions of the Medina Mosque alongside several adjacent residential structures in Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh area amid heavy police deployment. Official sources stated that the operation was carried out to clear land for a road-widening project leading toward Max Hospital. Municipal officials maintained that prior legal notices had been served to all affected properties before bulldozers were brought in to clear the illegal encroachments obstructing the thoroughfare.

However, the mosque management committee strongly disputed the action, raising serious questions regarding the timeline and legal process. Mr. Mobin Khan, president of the Medina Mosque, stated that after requesting legible copies of foundational documents to prepare a response, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) instead issued three consecutive notices ordering them to vacate within 15 days. Although the management approached the Appellate Tribunal presenting architectural plans dating back to 2001 for all three floors, the tribunal permitted the demolition of the upper levels, ruling that only one floor holding an official electricity meter was authorized.

Expressing deep distress, the mosque’s imam, Mr. Zarif-ur-Rahman, questioned why their structure was targeted, remarking, ‘Every house across the entire Shalimar Bagh area is built based on a General Power of Attorney. Yet, this mosque alone is being singled out as illegal.’ Mr. Shoaib Jamai, Delhi State President of AIMIM, also arrived at the heavily cordoned scene and denounced the drive as unconstitutional, comparing the methodology to demolition tactics seen in Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Jamai confirmed that while representatives retrieved copies of the Holy Quran and the ground floor remains intact, they intend to pursue further legal remedies.

The late-night operation triggered widespread anger and panic among residents, forcing authorities to temporarily withdraw the bulldozers and pause the demolition drive. Despite the temporary halt, a heavy police presence remains stationed across Shalimar Bagh to prevent potential untoward incidents and maintain public order.