Delhi Police have apprehended six additional individuals linked to the turmoil that occurred near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in the Turkman Gate area. This brings the total number of arrests in this case to 11. The arrests follow the earlier detention of five people related to the stone pelting incident during a demolition drive near the mosque.
Police authorities have identified 30 individuals allegedly involved in the violence. The identification process relied on CCTV footage, body-worn camera recordings of police officers, and various viral videos from the vicinity. A summons is expected to be dispatched to Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi for his alleged presence at the site before the outbreak of violence.
Furthermore, the authorities are intensifying efforts to locate YouTuber Salman, who is believed to have attempted to disrupt peace through social media platforms. Salman is accused of urging locals to gather at the site during the demolition drive. Investigations have unveiled that certain influential figures in the area allegedly encouraged residents to assemble through their respective WhatsApp groups with the aim of causing unrest and impeding the work of the administration and law enforcement agencies.
The FIR chronicles the events from the police barricading of encroached land to the provocative actions of locals, including hurling stones at the police despite explanations that the demolition drive was solely targeting illegal constructions and freeing illegally occupied government land without affecting the nearby mosque. The unrest began around 12.40 a.m. when a group of 30-35 people gathered, shouted slogans, and obstructed police efforts to secure the area.
Videos circulating on social media depict the stone pelting at police personnel and the mob damaging barricades, sparking outrage among some netizens over the direct assault on the on-duty policemen. The FIR has been filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.
