As the bulldozers began their work, the atmosphere rapidly deteriorated. What started as vocal protests quickly transitioned into physical resistance, with members of the agitated crowd pelted stones at the police personnel cordoning off the site. Facing a barrage of projectiles and a swelling crowd, the Delhi Police responded with a baton charge (lathi charge) and the deployment of tear gas canisters to disperse the rioters and reclaim control of the perimeter. The narrow lanes of the locality became a battlefield for several hours, with the acrid smoke of tear gas filling the air as security forces struggled to restore order and allow the administrative action to proceed.
By dawn, the immediate violence had subsided, leaving behind a heavy silence and a neighborhood under virtual lockdown. Senior police officials have confirmed that while the situation is currently under control, a massive deployment of paramilitary and local police forces remains stationed at Turkman Gate to prevent any flare-up of communal or civil tension. The administrative authorities have maintained that the demolition was part of a pre-planned effort to remove illegal encroachments, though the timing and location of the drive have left a lingering sense of resentment among the populace.
This incident underscores the recurring friction between urban administrative mandates and the sensitive socio-religious landscapes of Delhi’s walled city. Beyond the immediate physical damage and the injuries sustained during the skirmish, the midnight crackdown has reignited debates regarding the ethics of nighttime evictions and the transparency of urban renewal projects. As the area remains under heavy surveillance, the challenge for the administration now lies in balancing the enforcement of law with the delicate task of maintaining communal harmony in one of the capital's most densely populated and historically significant districts.
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