Authorities in Faridabad demolished at least 20 unauthorised structures, including a temple and a mosque, during a pre-dawn operation on Saturday, after suspending mobile internet services in parts of the city to prevent possible unrest.
The demolition drive was carried out in the NIT area under heavy police deployment, with teams from the district administration, Municipal Corporation of Faridabad and police moving in during the early hours. The operation began around 2am and was completed by about 5.30am, limiting public movement in the locality while bulldozers cleared structures identified as encroachments.
Officials said the demolished buildings stood on land classified as green belt or obstructed the alignment of planned infrastructure works, including the Gurgaon-Faridabad-Noida Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System corridor and a proposed elevated road. The action followed directions linked to removal of encroachments from public and protected land, including land reserved for civic and environmental purposes.
Among the structures removed were a mosque estimated to be about 50 years old and a temple said to be around 40 years old. Shops, smaller religious structures and other constructions were also cleared. The demolition took place around Masjid Chowk and adjoining parts of NIT, an area where residential, commercial and community activity is densely packed.
Mobile internet, bulk SMS and dongle-based services were suspended within a one-kilometre radius of the notified NIT location from 12.30am to 10pm on May 30. Voice calls, banking messages, recharge-related SMS, broadband and leased-line internet services were exempted. The order cited the risk of tension, mobilisation of crowds, damage to property and circulation of rumours through social media platforms.
Security arrangements were extensive, with barricades, police pickets and traffic diversions placed before the demolition began. Roads leading towards the affected stretch were sealed, and personnel were deployed to prevent crowding near the site. Senior police officers supervised the exercise, while civic officials coordinated the removal of debris and clearance of the corridor.
The administration maintained that notices and legal procedures had preceded the action, arguing that unauthorised constructions could not be allowed to block public infrastructure projects or occupy land earmarked for green use. Officials said the drive was not directed at any community and covered structures found to be illegal, irrespective of religious affiliation.
Local residents disputed parts of the official account, with some claiming they were not given adequate time to remove belongings or pursue further legal remedies. Several residents expressed anger over the timing of the action, saying the pre-dawn demolition and communication curbs created fear in the neighbourhood. Community representatives also questioned why old religious structures were targeted without a negotiated relocation plan.
The demolition has renewed debate over the handling of encroachments involving places of worship, particularly when structures have existed for decades and acquired local social significance. Courts and environmental authorities have repeatedly held that religious use cannot legalise encroachment on public land, but administrations often face resistance when enforcement affects temples, mosques, shrines or community facilities.
Faridabad has seen rising pressure on land because of expanding housing, commercial activity and transport projects linking the National Capital Region. The planned RRTS corridor and elevated road are expected to improve connectivity between Gurgaon, Faridabad and Noida, but alignment clearances have created flashpoints in congested areas where informal construction has grown over several decades.
The internet suspension also drew attention because such curbs have increasingly become a preventive tool during sensitive enforcement actions. Authorities argue that temporary restrictions help stop rumours and prevent violence, while civil liberties advocates have warned that shutdowns disrupt daily life, business activity, education, payments and emergency communication.
