Ujjain: Tensions flared in Madhya Pradesh’s temple town of Ujjain on Monday morning after violent clashes broke out between local demonstrators and security forces during a civic demolition drive targeting a portion of the historic Shahi Masjid. The partial removal of the structure forms part of an extensive municipal road-widening project aimed at easing transit corridors ahead of the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela scheduled for 2028.
The confrontation escalated along the corridor between Kanthal Chauraha and Gopal Mandir when a crowd converged near the site to oppose the demolition. Several demonstrators breached police barricades and pelted stones at law enforcement personnel deployed to secure the perimeter. Police resorted to firing tear-gas shells and using mild force to disperse the gathering and restore order. Authorities confirmed that Crime Branch Inspector Pushpa Panchal and other personnel sustained injuries during the stone-pelting. Following the violence, additional security contingents, including the Rapid Action Force, were deployed to seal off access routes and prevent further unrest.
The controversy centres on a 10-foot projection of the centuries-old Waqf property that falls within the designated 15-metre alignment under the Ujjain Master Plan 2035. While administrative officials had held consultations with community representatives to facilitate voluntary removal of the encroaching section, resistance mounted on the ground amid concerns regarding the mosque’s architectural stability and historic legacy. The corridor serves as a crucial transit route connecting Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple, Gopal Mandir, and the Shipra riverfront, where millions of pilgrims are expected to gather during the once-in-12-years congregation.
Opposition leaders and community representatives have contested the action, urging authorities to consider alternative land acquisition to spare the heritage prayer hall. The Madhya Pradesh High Court had earlier dismissed petitions challenging the civic notices, with a Division Bench at Indore hearing further appeals on the matter. Municipal officials reiterated that approximately 274 properties have been served notices along the route, maintaining that uniform clearance of bottlenecks remains imperative to manage future pilgrimage crowds safely.
