Demolition Drive on Shalimar Bagh Mosque for Road Widening Triggers Midnight Outcry and AIMIM Protest A late-night bulldozer operation targeting a mosque in Delhi's Shalimar Bagh for road expansion sparked local outrage and fierce protests from AIMIM leaders. Late-night tensions flared in the Shalimar Bagh area of the national capital as civic authorities deployed heavy earthmoving machinery to demolish parts of a mosque to facilitate a road widening project. News of the sudden operation spread quickly through the neighbourhood, drawing agitated local residents to the scene in protest. As tensions escalated around the site, representatives from Asaduddin Owaisi's party, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, arrived to confront authorities and challenge the demolition. Midnight Demolition Likened to Past Saharanpur Action Shoaib Jamei, the Delhi state president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, strongly condemned the administration's actions, asserting that the bulldozers were brought in around 3 AM. Drawing parallels to past controversies, Jamei characterized the midnight demolition in Shalimar Bagh as Saharanpur Part-2. He contended that the operation was carried out abruptly without granting adequate prior notice or grace time to the local caretakers, creating fear that the entire structure might be brought down. Allegations Over Restricted Access and Plea to Retrieve Holy Books Taking to social media platform X in a post, Jamei shared that their local delegation visited Shalimar Bagh on the direct instructions of party president Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi. However, he claimed that law enforcement officials barred them from meeting the imam of the mosque. According to Jamei, police barricades effectively sealed off the area, preventing citizens and community members from entering within a 100 to 200-meter perimeter around the site. In an accompanying video, Jamei pleaded with the authorities to pause long enough to allow community members to carefully retrieve copies of the holy Quran from inside the premises. Expressing deep dismay, he emphasized that public servants take an oath under the Constitution and should uphold due process and basic religious sensitivity rather than acting with undue haste in the middle of the night. Prior Encroachment Drives in Historic Delhi Neighbourhoods The midnight operation in Shalimar Bagh follows similar anti-encroachment efforts carried out across various parts of Delhi. Authorities had earlier launched an operation in the vicinity of Jama Masjid, where several unauthorized commercial establishments and shops erected within public parks were demolished by municipal bulldozers. While civic agencies continue to pursue clearing public land and widening major thoroughfares, late-night demolitions of religious structures frequently meet with strong political and community pushback. What this means for you The midnight demolition drive and ensuing protests in Shalimar Bagh carry immediate implications for local mobility and community policing. • In Shalimar Bagh and North-West Delhi: Security barricades extending across a 100 to 200-meter radius around the site may cause notable morning commuting delays. Residents and commuters are advised to monitor local traffic advisories and use alternative arterial roads. • Across India: The incident highlights ongoing municipal efforts nationwide to prioritize urban road expansion and clear unauthorized structures. It underscores the recurring legal and social challenges administrations face when infrastructure projects encounter longstanding community structures. • Law and Order Monitoring: Local authorities have heightened security monitoring to prevent unrest following the midnight action. Community members in the vicinity should anticipate heavy police presence until the site is fully cleared. • Long-Term Road Traffic: Once the widening project is finalized, the corridor is intended to facilitate smoother traffic flow for daily commuters. In the short term, however, ongoing clearance work and debris removal may slow down transit through this sector. Why this happened The demolition in Delhi's Shalimar Bagh was carried out by administrative authorities as part of an infrastructure project aimed at road widening. • Road Widening Initiative: Civic agencies identified bottlenecks along the Shalimar Bagh corridor and undertook expansion work to ease daily vehicular congestion. The structure fell directly within the designated alignment required for the wider thoroughfare. • Timing of the Midnight Drive: Authorities often schedule sensitive infrastructure clearance operations during nocturnal hours around 3 AM to minimize daylight public disruption and traffic congestion. However, the lack of prior daytime communication prompted swift pushback from local residents and community leaders. • Ongoing Urban Clearance Precedents: This operation aligns with broader enforcement drives across the capital to remove unauthorized encroachments from public lands and thoroughfares. Similar actions were undertaken near Jama Masjid, where illegal commercial setups occupying public parks were dismantled. Questions & Answers 1. Why was a bulldozer deployed against the mosque in Shalimar Bagh? Authorities executed the demolition drive to clear the path for a planned road widening project in the area. 2. At what time did the demolition occur and who registered protests? According to AIMIM Delhi chief Shoaib Jamei, the drive took place around 3 AM, triggering outcry from residents and AIMIM leaders. 3. What specific allegations did Shoaib Jamei level against the administration? Jamei alleged that no advance notice was granted, a 100 to 200-meter area was barricaded, and leaders were prevented from meeting the mosque's imam. 4. What request did Jamei make regarding religious texts? He requested authorities to pause and allow community members to safely retrieve copies of the holy Quran from inside the structure. 5. Has a similar anti-encroachment drive occurred recently in Delhi? Prior to this, civic agencies carried out a demolition drive near Jama Masjid, clearing illegal shops constructed inside municipal parks. https://trendkia.com/en/delhi/shalimar-bagh-men-saraka-chaurikarana-ke-lie-masjida-para-adhi-rata-chala-buladojara-aimim-ne-jataya-kara-virodha-36796 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.