Delhi Police has arrested one more accused in the Turkman Gate stone-pelting case, which occurred during a demolition drive in Old Delhi. A Delhi Police Official has said that the number of arrests has reached 12 so far in this case.
Meanwhile, security arrangements were tightened in and around the locality in view of Friday prayers. A large number of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in sensitive pockets to maintain law and order.The fresh arrests made on Thursday took the total number of people held so far to 11, including the apprehension of a juvenile.
Police have put multiple WhatsApp groups under the scanner for allegedly circulating misleading audio messages, they said, adding that they are planning to send a notice to Samajwadi Party leader Mohibbullah Nadvi, who was allegedly present on the spot, to join the investigation.
Joint Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma earlier said, "In a preliminary investigation, it has come to light that he was present there, but had left by the time the demolition began. This is being investigated."
A forensic team was deployed in the Turkman Gate locality to gather crucial evidence after violence erupted during the anti-encroachment drive by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) near the Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque, where stone-pelting was reported.
A demolition drive resumed on Thursday near the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque at Turkman Gate in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan area, a day after violent clashes broke out during an anti-encroachment operation. The violence erupted on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday after a social media post claimed that the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque was being demolished.
The claim triggered panic, leading a large crowd to gather near Turkman Gate and hurl stones at police personnel deployed at the site.
According to the police, the incident took place around 12.40 am when people assembled in violation of prohibitory orders and began raising slogans against the police. Stone-pelting injured five police personnel, forcing security forces to fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
An FIR has been registered at the Chandni Mahal Police Station, which stated that despite repeated warnings, the crowd refused to disperse and turned violent. In connection with the stone-pelting incident, five people have been arrested so far.Police officials said the demolition drive was part of an ongoing anti-encroachment operation and clarified that no religious structure was being demolished. Security has been tightened in the area, and additional police forces have been deployed to prevent any further escalation.
Follow us
