Ujjain Shahi Masjid Row Turns Tense
Stone-pelting reported as police use tear gas during protest over partial removal for road widening
- Clashes reported between protesters and police in Ujjain.
- Police used tear gas after alleged stone-pelting.
- Mosque portion falls within the proposed road alignment.
- Road widening is linked to Simhastha 2028 preparations.
GG News Bureau
Ujjain, 28th Sept: Tension escalated in Ujjain on Monday as a large group of people clashed with police at the Shahi Masjid site over the proposed removal of a portion of the mosque for a road-widening project. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd after stone-pelting was reported, while Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed in the area.
The road-widening work is part of preparations for the Simhastha Mela 2028, a major religious gathering expected to draw large numbers of pilgrims to Ujjain. The administration has undertaken several infrastructure projects to improve traffic movement and public facilities ahead of the event.
The dispute centres on portions of the Shahi Masjid that fall within the proposed road alignment. The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Indore bench had earlier dismissed petitions challenging the Ujjain Municipal Corporation’s action, allowing the authorities to proceed with the road-widening process. The court cited the need to manage traffic and public safety during major religious events, including Simhastha 2028.
According to reports, community members had gathered at the mosque to oppose the proposed removal. The situation turned tense on Monday as police and protesters confronted each other, with stones allegedly thrown at security personnel and tear gas used to disperse the crowd.
The administration has maintained that the road-widening exercise is linked to broader infrastructure and traffic-management requirements ahead of Simhastha 2028. The affected road connects important religious and public locations in the city and is expected to carry significant pilgrim traffic during major events.
The Shahi Masjid is also described by community members as a centuries-old Waqf property. Claims regarding its exact historical age have varied in public accounts and should be distinguished from established historical records.
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi has opposed the proposed removal and urged the state administration to consider alternatives for widening the road. He has called for the sentiments of local residents and the historical significance claimed for the structure to be taken into consideration.
The developments come amid continuing legal proceedings surrounding the road-widening project. The latest confrontation has led to heightened security around the mosque complex as authorities proceed with preparations for the 2028 religious gathering.
