In an early morning demolition drive, the Delhi Development Authority razed the Akhundji mosque, believed to be 600-700 years old, without any notice to the mosque committee, leaving residents in shock. Situated less than a kilometre from Eidgah Mehrauli and less than 2 km from UNESCO site Qutub Minar, the heritage site, now just a pile of rubble, lies barricaded and guarded by police. Entry is barred for all. The demolition also destroyed a madrassa, several graves, including two 700-year-old shrines and the home of the mosque’s Imam. Residents Article 14 spoke to, questioned the legality of the demolition and said that they saw it as a move to polarise Mehrauli’s multi-religious community on communal lines.
#Delhi #delhipolice #mosque #article14 #india
Timecodes:
0:00- Intro
0:27- No sign of the mosque
0:47- 'How can it be DDA land'?
1:06- "Encroaching" forest area
2:55-'Mehrauli is said to be older than Delhi,'
5:11- Destruction of graves, shrines and a madrassa
5:55- 'All graves are open'
6:33- 'They did not have slippers. Everything was destroyed'
8:12- 'Places like Mehrauli which are syncretic are a threat'
