Clashes in Ujjain over razing of mosque’s portion, 15 detained

Police detained 15 persons, including five content creators, and lodged seven FIRs after a group clashed with security personnel in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain on Monday ahead of the demolition of a portion of the Shahi Mosque for a road-widening project, as part of preparations for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2028.

The situation is now peaceful, but heavy security arrangements remain in place in the sensitive areas, officials told The Hindu.

Later in the day, a Division Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Indore disposed of two petitions from Muslim representatives after they informed the court that the matter had been settled with the Ujjain Municipal Corporation.

Clashes erupted when a few community members began removing a three-foot overhang of the mosque near the Mahakaleshwar Temple following an agreement with the administration on Sunday night. But another section started protesting against it. While the area around the mosque was barricaded, the group tried to reach the site and clashed with the security personnel. Some securitymen were injured in stone-pelting.

Ujjain Inspector General of Police, Rakesh Gupta, told The Hindu that the situation was brought under control by using mild force, including baton charge, and tear gas. A group also protested outside the residence of the city qazi Khaliq-ur-Rahman and threw stones, he said.

Mr. Gupta said tensions were caused by a rumour that the administration was using bulldozers on the mosque.

“Several meetings had been held with the representatives of the Muslim community in the past few days and on Sunday night, it had been agreed upon that they themselves will remove the necessary portions. But members of the community had started to gather on their roofs in the morning and when the community representatives started to break the portions, a section of the community, mostly youth, tried to march toward the mosque and created nuisance,” he said.

Mr. Gupta said seven cases have been lodged under relevant provisions for various incidents, including at the city qazi’s house, and for spreading misinformation and instigating people.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Pradeep Sharma said the situation was brought under control before 9 a.m., after which demolition work started. He said 15 people are in custody, and police are scanning social media, CCTV and drone footage to identify more suspects.

“The religious leaders and representatives are with the administration, but the incident was carried out by a dissatisfied faction within the Muslim community. We have already taken 15 people in custody and legal action is being taken against them,” he said.

Ujjain Collector Roshan Kumar Singh said community members began removing the portion after the situation eased. He said only a small part of the mosque, located at Ujjain’s Chhatri Chowk, needed to be removed for the road-widening work on a 900-metre stretch.

City qazi Khali Kurre Rehman issued a video message asking community members not to believe rumours. “The matter regarding the mosque was resolved overnight through mutual agreement. There is no situation that requires anyone to visit the site. The task that was pledged to be completed is currently being carried out. Everyone is urged not to pay heed to any rumours and to avoid stepping out of their homes to visit the site unnecessarily based on such rumours,” he said.

On September 9, the High Court dismissed two petitions opposing the proposed demolition. In the order, Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt noted, “Considering the upcoming event of the Simhastha Kumbh, 2028, whereby the expectations of crores of devotees are required to be kept in mind, as well as the need to provide better facilities and to manage the traffic of such events; and considering the situation of the premises in question, which is almost opposite to the Mahakaleshwar Temple and very near to the Kshipra River. And for the consideration of the larger public safety and larger public interest, the action taken by the respondent [State authorities] is found to be after following the necessary provisions of law.” 

As part of the ongoing preparations for Simhastha, organised every 12 years in Ujjain, several parts of the city and nearby pockets are being developed to facilitate the movement of pilgrims. The holy city has been battling traffic congestion for years. Mr. Singh said preparations are being made to host an estimated 45 crore pilgrims.