New Delhi

The petitioner in the Delhi's Turkman Gate demolition drive case, Preet Sirohi, on Wednesday said that when he started researching the Dargah Illahi complex, he found that there are complexes and illegal constructions over public land.

He stressed that land ownership lies with the PWD and the MCD.

"When I started researching the Dargah Illahi complex, I found that there are complexes and illegal constructions over public land. The ownership of the land lies with the PWD and the MCD," Sirohi told ANI.

The MCD on Wednesday conducted a demolition drive at the encroached area in the vicinity of Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid, Turkman Gate, near Ramlila Maidan, Delhi, after the High Court's order in the early morning hours of January 7, 2025, according to an official statement from Delhi Police.

Delhi Police have detained five people in connection with the stone-pelting incident during the demolition drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) near Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid at Turkman Gate, officials said on Wednesday.

According to the police, around 25-30 people pelted stones at the police and MCD officials after they arrived with JCBs at the Turkman Gate to demolish illegal encroachment on the court's order.

Five police personnel suffered minor injuries in the incident. They have been treated at the nearby hospital, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Central District, Nidhin Valsan said.

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Before the demolition drive, several coordination meetings were held with members of the Aman Committee and other local stakeholders to maintain peace and prevent any untoward incidents. All possible preventive and confidence-building measures were undertaken, according to Central Range Joint Commissioner of Police, Madhur Verma.

However, officials said a "few miscreants" attempted to create a disturbance by pelting stones, and the situation was promptly brought under control through "measured and minimal use of force."