Delhi Police Crack Down on Turkman Gate Violence, 11 Arrests Made Amid Social Media Fuelled Chaos
Image Source: Internet
The Delhi Police have widened their investigation into the violent clashes that erupted during an anti-encroachment drive in the city's Turkman Gate area. The operation, carried out on a court order, turned violent as protesters pelted stones at police personnel and civic workers. Tensions escalated after social media influencers spread false claims about the demolition drive, fuelling panic and unrest among locals. According to officials, misleading posts and audio messages on WhatsApp played a significant role in instigating the violence. The police have arrested 11 suspects, including six individuals who were taken into custody on Thursday. A female social media influencer has been summoned for questioning after a video she posted claiming that a mosque was being demolished was flagged by monitoring teams. A Delhi court has remanded five arrested men to 13 days of judicial custody. The police have also identified 10 social media influencers who allegedly spread false information about the drive. The unrest broke out during an anti-encroachment drive near the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. Police personnel were injured, including the local station house officer, as protesters attacked them with stones and bottles. Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh has announced plans to conduct a detailed survey in areas surrounding Jama Masjid to identify encroachments. Civic teams are working to clear the debris from the Turkman Gate demolition site, which is expected to take a few days. The violence has sparked concerns about the spread of misinformation on social media and the impact it has on public order. The police have vowed to take action against those responsible for fuelling the unrest through their online posts and messages.
