Barricades, sealed lanes, eerie calm: Turkman gate falls silent after overnight demolition drive

NEW DELHI: All roads and bylanes leading to Turkman Gate were sealed on Wednesday, with heavy police deployment turning the locality into a high-security zone. Barricades lined the approach roads, and residents of nearby lanes remained confined indoors, lending the otherwise bustling neighbourhood an eerie calm.Shuttered markets and empty streets replaced the usual chaos, as only police personnel and civic officials moved through the area.Debris-clearing operations continued under tight security following an overnight demolition drive to remove an illegal Markaz complex. The structure included a banquet hall (barat ghar) used for private events, along with a dialysis centre and other diagnostic facilities.According to officials, the demolition began around midnight on Tuesday and continued until sunrise.Outside the demolished complex, remnants of the dialysis centre lay scattered — hospital beds, medical equipment, broken furniture, and discarded shoes were strewn across the rubble in front of the adjoining mosque.Salam Ansari (32), a resident of nearby DDA flats who lives with his wife and 2 children above his biryani shop, said residents did not anticipate such strict restrictions. “We did not know we would be confined inside our homes and not allowed to step out.

Late at night, there was chaos and repeated police announcements. We heard noises, but stayed indoors after being alerted about the situation,” he said.Another migrant worker from Aligarh, who lived in the area for over a decade and works in construction, said there was talk of a possible demolition a day earlier. “We usually sleep inside the shop itself. After the announcements, we did not step out. Since our shop is very close to the site, we heard all the noise through the night,” he said.Residents of surrounding colonies, including areas near Ramlila Maidan and the DDA flats adjoining the site, said police presence intensified after reports of stone-pelting late Tuesday night. Movement was strictly restricted, with residents allowed to step out only in case of emergencies.By afternoon, the neighbourhood remained silent, sealed, and heavily guarded as authorities continued clearing debris from the demolished structures.The action followed a complaint by the Save India Foundation, which alleged that large portions of Ramleela Ground near Turkman Gate were encroached upon and were being used for commercial purposes under the guise of religious and charitable activities, officials said.The complaint flagged unauthorised structures, including the Markaz complex, a banquet hall, and commercial pathology and diagnostic centres charging fees from the public.The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), along with the Land and Development Office (L&DO) and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), conducted a joint survey on October 16. The survey revealed that around 2,512 square feet of road and footpath maintained by the Public Works Department was encroached upon, while approximately 36,428 square feet of Ramleela Ground land licensed to the MCD was under unauthorised occupation.

The encroached area housed a barat ghar, a parking lot, and a private diagnostic centre.The matter reached the Delhi High Court through a writ petition filed by the complainant. On November 12, the court directed the MCD to remove the encroachments and illegal commercial activities within 3 months.In compliance with the court’s directions, the MCD conducted hearings on November 24 and December 16 under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner (Land and Estate). Representatives of the Managing Committee, the Delhi Waqf Board, L&DO, DDA, and revenue authorities were heard during the proceedings.