New Delhi, Jan 7 (.) Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood on Wednesday termed the stone-pelting incident during an encroachment removal drive near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque at Turkman Gate as “unfortunate”, and said “strict action is being taken against those involved in violence.”
He said the drive was conducted as per court orders to remove illegal commercial establishments around the mosque
Sood said, “The action to remove encroachments was being carried out in compliance with court directions, as several commercial establishments had come up illegally around the mosque.”
He said that the mosque itself is completely safe, and warned that “disrupting lawful action is unacceptable.”
The Home Minister said that some criminal and miscreant elements resorted to protests and violence during the operation, which is unacceptable.
He said the accused involved in the incident has been identified and legal action is underway. So far, five people have been arrested in connection with the case.
He said, “The drive is limited only to illegal commercial establishments that fall under the purview of court orders, and there is no arbitrariness or ill intent on the part of the government.”
Five police personnel sustained minor injuries after locals resorted to stone-pelting during an anti-encroachment drive near Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan in the early hours of Wednesday.
Acting on an order of the Delhi High Court, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) launched a removal operation against illegal structures around the Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid at Turkman Gate, close to Ramlila Maidan in the national capital.
Speaking to the media, senior police officer Nidhin Valsan said that about 25-30 people threw stones at police teams, in which five policemen sustained minor injuries. “We had to use tear gas to control the situation. There was a banquet hall and a dispensary, which have been demolished. The drive was conducted in night, keeping in mind that people should not face any difficulty,” he said, adding that action will be taken against those who were involved in stone pelting.
Earlier in a statement, Joint Commissioner of Police Central Range, Delhi, Madhur Verma, stated that the entire area was meticulously divided into nine zones, each placed under the supervision of an officer of the rank of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police. Adequate deployment of police force was made at all sensitive points.
Prior to the demolition drive, several coordination meetings were held with members of the Aman Committee and other local stakeholders, with the objective of maintaining peace and preventing any untoward incident.
“All possible preventive and confidence-building measures were undertaken. During the course of the demolition, a few miscreants attempted to create a disturbance by indulging in stone pelting. The situation was promptly brought under control through measured and minimal use of force, ensuring that normalcy was restored without escalation,” the statement read.
“Delhi Police remains committed to maintaining law and order while ensuring that all judicial directions are implemented in a lawful, professional and sensitive manner,” the officer added further.
. PKJ .