Ujjain Shahi Masjid Clash: Stone-Pelting Erupts During Road-Widening Drive
Tension escalated in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, on Monday after a crowd gathered to oppose the removal of a portion of the Shahi Masjid as part of a road-widening project ahead of the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
Stone-pelting was reported near the mosque, following which police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The road-widening work is being carried out as part of Ujjain’s preparations for Simhastha 2028.
The administration plans to widen the road to 15 metres, with the affected stretch running between Kanthal Chauraha and Gopal Mandir.
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A wider infrastructure project in the area has identified hundreds of buildings and structures that fall within the proposed road alignment.
A portion of the Shahi Masjid falls within the alignment. The issue had already reached the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
On September 9, the Indore Bench dismissed petitions challenging notices issued by the Ujjain Municipal Corporation for the removal of the affected portion. The mosque committee has continued to challenge the move and has argued that an alternative alignment should be considered.
The situation became tense over the weekend when members of the Muslim community gathered at the mosque and opposed the proposed demolition.
On Sunday night, police and municipal officials arrived with machinery, but the administration did not immediately proceed with the removal as people remained gathered at the site. Talks were held with community representatives during the night.
By Monday morning, the situation had changed. As the administration began the process of removing the portion marked for road widening, a large crowd gathered near the mosque. Stone-pelting was reported during the confrontation with police. Security personnel then fired tear-gas shells to push the crowd back.
More than 2,000 police personnel were deployed in the area, with barricades placed around the mosque.
Reports said some police personnel sustained minor injuries during the confrontation. Police also restricted movement around the mosque as they tried to prevent the situation from spreading to nearby areas.
The road project is part of a larger infrastructure plan for Ujjain ahead of Simhastha 2028.
Authorities have identified 272 structures for removal or modification along a 730-metre stretch in one of the road-widening projects. The aim is to improve traffic movement and manage the large number of visitors expected during the religious gathering.
The wider road-widening drive has also affected the property of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. On Sunday, Yadav personally took part in removing a portion of his ancestral house that falls within the proposed alignment.
