A joint investigation team from CPI(ML) Liberation, AICCTU, AISA, AIPWA, and AILAJ visited Turkman Gate, Delhi, on 11 January to investigate the large-scale arrests following the demolitions in the area. The demolitions were carried out under the cover of darkness in the early morning hours of 7 January 2026, with a heavy police presence accompanying the officials. Following is the report of the fact-finding team:
The Turkman gate demolition is part of the larger project of the BJP ruling regime's "Bulldozer Raj" prevalent across the country from Uttar Pradesh to Different parts of Delhi. What is portrayed as a standard administrative procedure, constitutes a pattern of "Managed" "planned" State Repression on particular communities. The fact finding team interacted with multiple locals, legal counsel, affected families and elderly community members. The interaction points out to a desperate attempt of judicial supervision and a total abandonment of the due process, attack on constitutional rights and breach of the Juvenile Justice act.
Based on testimony from source 1 (an elderly community member), the Faiz-E-Elahi Masjid complex consisted of three distinct sections- Worship Area, General Usage/Utility space and Tuition & Social Area.
He pointed out - "Maine apne chote se dekha hai yahan par hamare mazhab ke kayi program saal bhar hote rhe hain. Yahan saalo se to dono dharm ke log kaam bhi karte aa rhe hain, ye masla zamin ka hai hi nahi, warna court ne 3 din ka waqt diya tha us par chalna chahiye tha, usi din raat ko 2 baje pahuch gaye ye log(police) todne." [I have seen since my childhood that many programs of our religion keep taking place here throughout the year. For years, people of both religions have been working together here. This issue is not about land at all; otherwise, the court had given three days’ time, and that should have been followed. Instead, these people (the police) arrived at 2 a.m. that very night to demolish it.]
By using severe intimidation tactics, the state sought to crush local opposition before it could reach the courts. The timing of the demolition carried out at 2:00 AM was a calculated move "so that the court could not grant a stay," effectively rendering judicial oversight. Furthermore, the transfer of the Commissioner of the area to J&K just two days prior is characterized by residents as a tactical action to hide accountability. After visiting the site, we saw the part of the mosque which comprised facilities like the Tuition Centre, Shadi Hall, and Dawa Khana (Clinic) had been demolished.
In a horrifying violation of several rights granted by constitution the fact finding found that the police did not just assist with the demolition, but also orchestrated a state of fear, intimidation and carried out various detentions and arrests, including those of minors. They targeted the home of Salim(changed name) and forcibly detained his two sisters aged 15 and 11 years, and kept them at Turkman gate police station for nearly two hours, the mother of the two despite several appeals was not allowed to accompany them to the PS. Shifa narrates, "Sawal puchne le gaye humko, 1 female police thi 3 male officer, aur vo humko yehi keh rhe they baar baar ki apne bhai ko bulao, vo aajayega to tum dono ko chhod denge." [they took us away saying they wanted to ask questions. There was one female police officer and three male officers, and they kept repeatedly telling us to call our brother. They said that if he came, they would release both of us.]
The police on them failing to bring their brother to the PS, left them but confiscated their phone, which has not been returned to them till now. This was not an isolated incident but a broader Capture by Proxy program was executed. By picking up elderly parents and sisters to use as bait, the police forced young men to buy back the freedom of their loved ones. This strategy allowed the state to meet a number of "rioter" arrests, creating a false narrative of guilt by coercing surrenders through emotional and psychological warfare.
Internal Subversion of the WAQF board
A key finding of this report is the evidence that suggests deliberate attempt to weaken the WAQF board from within, locals state that Ashwini Kumar who serves as the commissioner is also the administrator of the WAQF board. Because of this despite a designated management committee, the board neglected to submit petition against the demolition or did not provide adequate representation and complied with the demolitions.
The Turkman Gate demolitions are yet again another attempt targeting a Muslim majority area, driven by the politics of communal hatred and attempt to further frame and vilify the community through false narratives. By conducting demolitions at 2 AM, disregarding court orders, using minors as leverage and framing young men by capturing their family members, the state agenda stands clear, to treat them as second-class citizens.
We demand -
• Immediate inquiry into the breach of juvenile justice procedures and the illegal arrests and detentions.
• Immediate release of all arrested individuals.
• Restoration of the WAQF autonomy.
• Full compensation for the destroyed facilities (tuition centre, clinic and the community hall)
