Police Fire Tear Gas As Clashes Erupt At Ujjain Shahi Masjid

Tension broke out near the Shahi Masjid in Ujjain on Monday morning. Protesters threw stones at security personnel during a civic drive. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.

The Ujjain Municipal Corporation wants to remove a section of the mosque for road widening.

The planned demolition is part of preparation works for Simhastha 2028. Large crowds gathered early in the morning to block the municipal teams. Protesters and security forces quickly faced off on the street.

Officials responded by sealing off the surrounding zone.

Authorities deployed around 2,000 police personnel across the area. Barricades now block movement within a 500-metre radius of the mosque. Senior administrative and police officers reached the spot to keep order.

Read More: Tiger Cub Enters Odisha Village, Forest Officials Rescue Cub After 15-Hour Operation

Heavy machinery, including JCB excavators, had arrived on Sunday night. However, local residents stopped the machines from moving forward.

Many community members spent Sunday night inside the building to protect the site. Talks took place between community leaders and city officials overnight. Some reports suggested an agreement where locals would dismantle the section themselves.

That arrangement collapsed when official demolition teams arrived on Monday morning.

The dispute centers on a road widening plan between Kanthal Chauraha and Gopal Mandir. Officials are expanding the 900-metre stretch to 15 metres. The route handles heavy traffic near the Mahakaleshwar Temple and the Kshipra river.

Most affected structures along this route have already been cleared. The Shahi Masjid remains the final point of contention.

Mosque representatives challenged the civic action in court. They argued the mosque is registered as a Waqf property and deserves legal protection. On September 9, the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed two petitions against the demolition.

Also Read: Banners at Chhattisgarh Churches: "Only Christians Allowed" Amid Anti-Conversion Law

The court ruled that the municipal corporation followed proper legal procedures.

The single bench found no violation of constitutional rights under Articles 14, 25, 26, or 300A. The ruling cited the need for smooth traffic during Simhastha 2028. Following that dismissal, the mosque committee appealed to a Division Bench of the High Court.

The matter was set for an urgent hearing on Monday as action began on the ground.