Protests erupt in northwest Delhi's Mangolpuri over demolition at mosque
New Delhi, Jun 25: Protests erupted in northwest Delhi's Mangolpuri area, where portions of a mosque were demolished due to alleged encroachment, amid heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces, officials said on Tuesday.
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.
Additionally, the presence of women protesters, who sat on the unauthorised structure, complicated the law and order situation in the area, it added.
The demolition drive was undertaken by the civic body at a municipal park in Y Block of Mangolpuri against an illegally extended boundary wall of the mosque, the officials said.
The MCD removed 20 metres of the unauthorised structure but the situation escalated after a large mob and women protesters gathered at the site objecting to the demolition, the statement said.
"Despite the diligent efforts, the authorities were unable to safely disperse the crowd. In light of these developments, the police advised the MCD to temporarily halt the encroachment removal operation to maintain peace and order. A status report regarding this issue has been filed with the Delhi High Court," it said.
"The initiative was part of our (MCD's) ongoing efforts to address unauthorised religious encroachments and uphold the integrity of public spaces," the civic body said.
According to police officials, there were some allegations regarding stone pelting at a journalist during the demolition drive but no official complaint has been filed regarding the matter so far.
"We are waiting. If he (journalist) gives any complaint, we will further proceed with the matter," a senior police officer told PTI.
The local police and five companies of paramilitary personnel reached Mangolpuri's Y block in the morning to demolish illegal encroachment at the mosque.
As the demolition drive started at 6 am, locals gathered at the spot and started protesting, an officer said.
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Dharmasthala case: SIT senior officer Anucheth granted leave to travel to US amid investigation
Bengaluru: Amid the investigation of the Dharmasthala mass burial case, senior officer of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) MN Anucheth, has reportedly traveled to the United States to participate in the Intelligent Transportation Society of America World Congress 2025.
As per a report in the Deccan Herald, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), in a letter dated August 1, granted leave to Anucheth, who is currently Deputy Inspector General of Police (Recruitment), to attend the event from August 19 to 31.
Also, sources in the Home Department have said that, while the SIT was formed on July 19, the senior officer had written to the DPAR on July 16, seeking permission to attend the event in the US.
The SIT is probing the allegations made by a former sanitation worker that several corpses were buried in multiple sites in Dharmasthala, the popular religious centre in Dakshina Kannada. The worker, who had earlier filed a complaint in the matter and was taken to the sites as witness has been arrested under charge of perjury and is in SIT custody.
