Cops: Razing ‘mosque’ may lead to violence

Delhi Police asks court to postpone demolition after Ramzan, Independence Day.

Demolition of the illegal structure at the Jama Masjid metro station site should be carried out after Ramzan to avoid communal tension, Delhi Police told the Delhi high court on Tuesday.The police also urged the court to direct Matia Mahal MLA Shoiab Iqbal, who had raised the structure, to demolish it too.

While asking the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the North Delhi Municipal Corporation to remove the structure, the court on July 30 had asked the police to provide protection to the demolition team and maintain a strict vigil to avoid a law and order problem.

The construction had come up over the ruins of another structure believed to be from the Mughal-era. It had surfaced during the digging work for the metro station. The court had handed over the site to the ASI to ascertain if the ruins were indeed the remains of Akbarabadi mosque from the Mughal era.

“The holy month of Ramzan is in progress. Further, Independence Day celebrations are approaching. Security arrangements have to be made. Also, Baba Ramdev has booked the Ramlila ground till August 30,” said a plea filed by Pawan Sharma, Delhi Police standing counsel.

“Respectable and knowledgeable persons have suggested that since the action of demolition of the unauthorised construction might disturb communal harmony, the same should be postponed,” said the police.

Seeking modification of the earlier order to the ASI and the North Corporation to demolish the structure, the police asked that “appropriate directions be issued to the MLA Shoiab Iqbal to remove the structure under the supervision of the ASI”.

The police informed the court that the site in Subhash Park had been cordoned off and no congregation or prayer was being allowed anywhere inside or near the site.