Turkman Gate tensions high: On January 7, 2026, in the early morning hours, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) conducted an anti-encroachment drive near the historic Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque (also known as Syed Faiz Ilahi Mosque) near Ramlila Maidan in Delhi’s Turkman Gate area. The operation led to tension and brief clashes.
Key Points of the Incident
The demolition was carried out to remove alleged illegal encroachments on land adjacent to the mosque and a nearby cemetery, including structures such as marriage halls, diagnostic centers, shops, parking areas, and roads/footpaths.
The operation involved approximately 17 bulldozers, a heavy police presence (including the Rapid Action Force), and traffic diversions.
Residents attempted to break through barricades, leading to protests and stone-pelting by a group of 25-30 people.
Police fired tear gas shells and used mild force to disperse the crowd. Five police personnel sustained minor injuries.
Approximately 5-10 people were detained, and an FIR was registered against unknown persons for rioting, obstructing government officials from performing their duties, and related charges.
The situation normalized shortly afterward, and by evening, the situation was reported to be under control.
Background and Legal Basis
The action followed a Delhi High Court order dated November 12, 2025, directing the MCD and the Public Works Department (PWD) to remove encroachments on approximately 38,940 square feet of land near Ramlila Maidan in Turkman Gate within three months.
These encroachments were identified in a joint survey conducted in October 2025.
On December 22, 2025, the MCD issued a notice declaring structures outside the main 0.195 acres of the mosque as illegal, citing a lack of ownership proof from the mosque committee or the Delhi Waqf Board. The mosque’s management committee challenged the demolition in court; on January 6, 2026, the High Court issued notices to the concerned authorities but did not grant an interim stay, allowing the demolition to proceed.
Police and officials described the operation as overall “smooth,” in accordance with court orders, and necessary, with minimal force used. Some political criticism emerged, with Congress leader Udit Raj questioning the timing and selective nature of the drive.
The area is historically sensitive: Turkman Gate is a Mughal-era landmark (one of the few remaining gates of Shahjahanabad) and was the site of a controversial demolition and violence during the 1975-1977 Emergency.
History of Turkman Gate
Turkman Gate is one of the surviving historical gates of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi), the walled city built in the 17th century (around the 1650s) by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It is located on Asaf Ali Road in Central Delhi, near areas like Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, and Ramlila Maidan.
It is named after the Sufi saint Shah Turkman Bayabani (a 13th-century figure), whose tomb and shrine are located nearby. Of the original 14 gates of the walled city, only four remain today: Kashmiri Gate, Ajmeri Gate, Delhi Gate, and Turkman Gate.
The gate is infamous for the 1976 Turkman Gate incident during the Emergency in India (1975-1977). Under Indira Gandhi’s government, influenced by her son Sanjay Gandhi, large-scale slum clearances and demolitions were carried out in Delhi to “beautify” the city. Residents near Turkman Gate, many from long-established communities, protested the displacement.
On April 18-19, 1976 (the bulldozers had arrived in early April), police fired on protesters, resulting in deaths (ranging from a few according to official figures to 12-20 or more according to independent reports) and forced evictions. This incident became symbolic of the excesses of the Emergency, including police brutality and forced sterilizations in the area.
More recently, the area around Turkman Gate (near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque and Ramlila Maidan) has seen renewed tensions over encroachments. In early January 2026 (including an operation around January 7), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) conducted a demolition drive to remove illegal structures following a court order, leading to protests, stone-pelting, and the use of tear gas by the police. This action followed directions from the Delhi High Court to remove encroachments from public land.
The gate itself remains a busy traffic point in a densely populated, historic area, predominantly inhabited by Muslims. It serves as a reminder of Delhi’s layered history – from Mughal grandeur to modern-day controversies.