Ujjain mosque partly dismantled amid road widening dispute
The Shahi Mosque committee agreed to remove part of the structure for a road project tied to the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh Mela. Authorities also removed part of its minaret after protests and clashes.
Part of the Shahi Mosque in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, has been removed as authorities pursue road widening for the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage held every 12 years. Al Jazeera reported that the mosque committee dismantled part of the platform, while authorities removed part of the minaret.
The dispute centres on how much of the site must be cleared. The committee negotiated with district authorities to remove three feet from the street, compared with more than seven feet initially sought by officials, according to Al Jazeera.
A local High Court dismissed a petition seeking to halt the demolition, saying the pilgrimage required additional space to manage traffic. The account says work had not begun inside the mosque.
Residents protested the planned removal, fearing a larger demolition. Authorities blamed AI-generated social media posts for rumours that the mosque was to be demolished; residents told Al Jazeera they had been told to dismantle it themselves or face official action. The accounts differ on how the protest began.
Police used tear gas during the unrest. Media reports cited by Al Jazeera said demonstrators threw stones and police used batons; at least a dozen people were injured and several men arrested. Responsibility for the clashes was not independently established in the report.
Authorities sealed the area around the mosque and maintained heavy security as the dispute continued.
