Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 28: Even as many members from the Muslim community cooperated with the authorities in clearing a portion of a mosque blocking a road-widening project in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, at least 7 people were arrested and five content creators booked as another section of the Muslim residents clashed with police over rumours that the mosque was being demolished.
The road was being widened as part of the preparations for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Ujjain in 2028. The tension that began on Sunday night flared up on Monday morning, leading to baton charge and use of tear gas by the police to control the situation. Ujjain Collector Roshan Kumar Singh said it was rumoured that the mosque was being demolished forcibly after which some miscreants clashed with the police and resorted to hurling stones.
In fact, many from the Muslim community had not only agreed for the part demolition of the mosque for the public utility project, many of them actually helped the authorities in removing the portion to make the task easy.
Ujjain SP Pradeep Sharma said the removal of the affected portion was continuing with the consent of the mosque committee and that police had, so far, detained 15 people and registered an FIR against seven. “The action to remove the affected portion of the mosque is continuing with the consent of the committee. So far, 15 people have been taken into custody and an FIR has been registered against seven people. Social media content creators are also among them. Police are continuously monitoring social media. Action is being taken against those spreading rumours or posting provocative material,” Sharma said.
The police investigation is now examining social media posts and messages circulated around the dispute, along with CCTV footage and drone recordings from the area, to identify those involved in the stone-pelting and the subsequent confrontation with police in the early hours of Monday.
City Qazi Khalil Qureshi Rehman, who was involved in the discussions with the administration, also appealed to people to stay away from the site. “The matter of the mosque was resolved that very night (on Sunday) through mutual agreement. There is no such situation that requires anyone to go there. An appeal to all: Do not pay attention to any kind of rumour and unnecessarily leave your homes and go to the spot,” he said.
Mr Singh also said the removal was being carried out voluntarily and appealed to people not to respond to rumours. “A part of the Shahi Masjid located at Chhatri Chowk is being voluntarily removed by the community members,” Singh said.
“People from all religions and communities are voluntarily cooperating in these development works. Houses, shops, religious places, etc., falling within the scope of road widening are being voluntarily removed by the respective community members. In this sequence, a part of the Shahi Masjid located at Chhatri Chowk is also being voluntarily removed by the community members. This is a positive example of cooperation and coordination from all communities,” the collector said.
“Members of the Muslim community themselves were removing the required portion of the mosque structure but some miscreants cause disturbance in the process and started creating nuisance. The police have dealt with them with mild force,” he said, adding that some personnel have suffered minor injuries in the clashes.
Mr Singh said only a small portion of the mosque was needed to be removed for the road widening work. “The demolition process is now underway and the community members are themselves doing it,” he added.
Mr Sharma said in the evening that the situation was peaceful and that the demolition work in the area has been going on since 9 a.m. He said a case has been lodged and that the police are identifying those who spread the rumours.
“We have taken about seven people into custody and five content creators who spread misinformation have also been booked. The misunderstanding is now clear,” he said. The road from Kanthal crossing to Gopal Mandir is being widened to 15 m ahead of the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh. The project involves widening a roughly 900-metre stretch and removal or modification of structures falling within the proposed alignment.
Earlier on September 9, 2026, the Indore Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court had dismissed two petitions opposing the proposed demolition of the mosque’s portion.
In the order, Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt had 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.”