Authorities conduct encroachment removal drive at site of old 'dargah' in south Delhi

Authorities conducted an “encroachment removal” action at the site of an old ‘dargah’ located beside a prominent street near the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin in south Delhi on April 1 amid heavy security deployment, police said.

Authorities conducted an "encroachment removal" action at the site of an old 'dargah' located beside a prominent street near the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin in south Delhi on April 1 amid heavy security deployment, police said.

The dargah of Syed Abdullah urf Bhure Shah, located on a plot near the Sabz Burj — a 16th-century double-domed Mughal-era monument, is "centuries-old" and the saint is revered by people from both Muslim and Hindu communities, said Yusuf Beg, caretaker of the dargah.

A posse, police and paramilitary personnel were deployed when the action was carried out by the authorities at the site facing the busy Zakir Husain Marg.

"A drive to remove encroachment on the pavement was carried out by the PWD. Adequate security personnel deployment was made," a senior police officer said.

As the dargah is located in the sensitive Nizamuddin area, paramilitary personnel were also on standby and one of them carried a tear gas shell box as well.

"We have been told to ensure law and order is maintained," a paramilitary personnel on duty said.