At 6 am on Tuesday, the tranquil silence of northwest Delhi’s Mangolpuri was broken by the rumble of bulldozers and the raised voices of residents.
Against the backdrop of the rising sun, the area surrounding the mosque in Y Block buzzed with unusual tension. A large mob including women protesters gathered around the mosque, forming a protective circle and objecting to the demolition of their place of worship.
Protests erupted as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), accompanied by local police and paramilitary personnel, initiated the demolition of portions of the mosque, citing alleged encroachment.
The demolition immediately drew resistance from locals who began protesting. Reportedly, Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer) Jimmy Chiram confirmed that while some people objected to the demolition, the situation was brought under control.
“We protested because it’s a mosque. How can a mosque, which is sacred, be demolished? What’s wrong with the government?”, said Humaira, 24, who was there at the time of the demolition. “People are just praying there and have been praying for years.”
“Nobody told us to come and protect the mosque. We heard the bulldozer’s noise and ran there,” she added.
Another resident Thabassum Fatima, 21, who was also there at the time of the incident, told Maktoob: “This is the government’s norm nowadays. Send bulldozers to Muslim houses and mosques and demolish them.”
Meanwhile, the MCD reported successfully removing 20 meters of an “unauthorized” wall in Municipal Park, Mangolpuri, Ward No 42, Rohini Zone.
However, the situation escalated as several protesters, including women, formed a human chain around the mosque and sat on the structure, complicating the law and order situation, as per the MCD. Efforts to disperse the crowd safely were unsuccessful, prompting the MCD to halt the demolition to maintain peace and order, following a request from the police.
“The demolition drive, however, had to be halted after the situation escalated as a large mob gathered, forming a human chain to obstruct the entry of JCBs into the area, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which carried out the drive,” said in a statement.
“The MCD remains steadfast in its commitment to enforcing the rule of law and ensuring the orderly development of the city. We are currently in the process of rescheduling the encroachment removal program and will provide updates as further developments occur,” an MCD official said, as per a report by India Today.
“This initiative was part of our ongoing efforts to address unauthorized religious encroachments and uphold the integrity of public spaces,” the MCD statement added,
The municipal authority stated that a report on this matter has been submitted to the High Court, and subsequent actions will be taken accordingly.
The demolition was carried out following a complaint filed by Hindutva activist Preet Sirohi. Earlier, another historic mosque, Jannatul Firdaus, located in Delhi’s Bawana was also demolished based on his complaint.
The caretakers of the Jannatul Firdaus mosque earlier alleged that the demolition took place without any advance notice or warning.
The Firdaus mosque has been standing for centuries, is an integral part of the community and possesses significant cultural and historical value, according to the residents.
Following the demolition of the Bawana masjid, in a social media post, Sirohi said, “…Let me remind you when you were abusing me with filthy language in the comments, I told you that in response to your abuses, I will demolish this mosque. This is the same mosque I was fighting for.”
He added that he called the police on the emergency number 100 twice. “But you people did not stop the construction and Delhi Police did not file a case. Look today, it is being demolished in front of you. I said that I would not leave a single illegal encroachment in Delhi.”
Sirohi said in response to every abuse, he would demolish every “illegal” mosque. “Remember my words. In a little while, this park will become a park again. You can throw stones, but this is the answer you will get. Jai Hind.”
Sirohi, the Hindutva hatemonger behind this complaint, has been claiming that he is campaigning against “illegal” religious structures in Delhi. He, the founder of the Save India Foundation (SIF), claimed that he has been involved in legal battles against over 2,000 such “illegal” mosques and dargahs in and around Delhi. Maktoob couldn’t verify his claim.
These incidents are not isolated. In February 2024, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolished a 600-year-old mosque, also citing “illegal” encroachment. This demolition included a madrasa that housed many orphaned children and a shrine of a Sufi saint within the mosque complex.
The Masjid Akhondji was demolished just a few months after the DDA assured the Delhi High Court that it would not demolish any mosques, archival graves, or other legitimate properties owned by the Delhi Waqf Board in and around the Mehrauli Archaeological Park. This assurance was given in response to a petition filed by the Delhi Waqf Board.
Nearly two weeks ago, the Delhi High Court mandated the evacuation of a 40-year-old mosque and madrasa in Hazrat Nizamuddin, Sarai Kale Khan. Labeled “unauthorized” by the Delhi Religious Committee, the Delhi Development Authority and the Delhi police issued a notice for their demolition on 13 June.
Since 2014, there has been an increasing number of mosque demolitions across India, particularly in Delhi. These demolitions are often justified by authorities on grounds of “illegal” encroachment. The use of bulldozers in such actions has become symbolic, with many viewing it as a tactic to intimidate and displace Muslim communities. This practice, often referred to as “bulldozer justice” has sparked significant controversy and criticism from human rights organizations.
Dr. SQR Ilyas, spokesperson for the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), said: “Demolition under the garb of encroachment is to fool the people. People have built and worshiped in the mosque for many years, and now suddenly it is being said that it is illegal.”
He added that how can the authorities demolish it merely on anyone’s complaint, neither they have investigated nor given any notice to the Masjid management and directly started the demolition.
“If you have any complaint from any XYZ, you cannot use that as a reason and without issuing a notice, without any investigation, you go and demolish the structure,” Ilyas told Maktoob. “Definitely, we will not stay idle; we will approach the court and take all legal options available there.”
In March 2024, Ilyas voiced concern about the deliberate targeting of mosques, madrassas, and Muslim personal law, suggesting it was part of a broader effort to dismantle Muslim religious institutions and undermine their cultural identity in India.
He highlighted the emerging narrative that madrasas allegedly foster a “jihadist” mindset among Muslims through their educational practices. “This is not a new issue. In 1998, when the BJP formed a government with Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Prime Minister and LK Advani as Education Minister, a high-powered ministerial committee was formed,” he said. “This committee labeled madrasas located on India’s borders with Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Nepal as ‘nurseries of terrorism’ and expressed concern about the increasing number of madrasas and called it ‘mushrooming of madrasas.’”
Following the inauguration of the Ram Mandir, there has been a growing sentiment among the minority community that mosques are increasingly at risk due to political motivations. Now, the recent demolitions have caused worries about how historical and religious sites in Delhi and other parts of India are being treated.
Despite the outcry, political opposition to these demolitions has been relatively muted. Critics argue that the lack of vocal opposition from political leaders emboldens groups like SIF and activists like Sirohi to continue their campaigns against what they deem “illegal” religious structures.
