Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Ujjain Mosque Removal Protest Escalates as Police Fire Tear Gas
Officials in Ujjain want to make a road wider before a large religious gathering in 2028.
Part of the historic Shahi Masjid is in the planned path of the road.
Local Muslim residents gathered to stop any part of the mosque from being removed.
Police brought many officers, barricades and large machines to the area.
The crowd and police faced each other, and stones were reportedly thrown at officers.
Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The mosque committee says the road could be widened another way.
Officials say the road is needed to handle traffic and millions of pilgrims.
The disagreement is also being discussed in court.
Police fired tear gas after protesters allegedly threw stones during resistance to the proposed partial removal of Ujjain’s Shahi Masjid.
The removal is linked to widening a roughly 900-metre Kanthal Chauraha–Gopal Mandir road stretch to 15 metres before Simhastha 2028.
Authorities deployed about 2,000 personnel, barricades, Rapid Action Force units, surveillance drones and heavy machinery around the mosque.
The mosque committee and Muslim residents have sought an alternative alignment, citing the mosque’s Waqf status, historic importance and a pending legal challenge.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Indore Bench dismissed two earlier petitions, while a further challenge was scheduled for hearing as tensions continued.
- Who
- Ujjain municipal authorities, police, local residents, Muslim community members and the Shahi Masjid committee; Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi also opposed the proposed removal.
- What
- Protests against the proposed partial removal of Shahi Masjid escalated into clashes, reported stone-pelting and police use of tear gas.
- When
- The clashes occurred on Monday, September 28, 2026, after protests and a sit-in that began on Saturday night or Sunday.
- Where
- Outside Shahi Masjid in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, along the proposed Kanthal Chauraha–Gopal Mandir road route.
- Why
- Authorities want to widen the road for traffic and infrastructure preparations before Simhastha 2028, while opponents want the mosque protected and an alternative road alignment used.
Opponents of Partial Removal
Authorities Supporting Road Project
Protecting the mosque
Opponents of Partial Removal
The mosque committee and Muslim residents say Shahi Masjid is a historically significant Waqf religious property that should be spared from demolition.
Authorities Supporting Road Project
Authorities maintain that the affected portion lies within the approved road alignment and that the work is proceeding through legal and administrative procedures.
Alternative road alignment
Opponents of Partial Removal
Opponents say the road could be widened from the opposite side or through another alignment, including by removing a building across from the mosque.
Authorities Supporting Road Project
Officials say widening the route is essential for traffic management and preparations for the expected influx of Simhastha pilgrims.
Legal position
Opponents of Partial Removal
The mosque committee has continued its court challenge and sought protection for the structure while opposing action on the ground.
Authorities Supporting Road Project
The High Court’s Indore Bench previously held that authorities followed the statutory process and that the proposed removal did not violate the constitutional provisions cited in the petitions.
- Road project
- A roughly 900-metre stretch between Kanthal Chauraha and Gopal Mandir is planned to be widened to 15 metres.
- Security deployment
- Reports said approximately 2,000 police personnel, including Rapid Action Force units, were deployed near the mosque.
- Police response
- Police fired repeated tear gas shells after stone-pelting was reported; one account said more than 18 shells were used.
- Structures affected
- Reports referred both to about 60 religious structures along the route and to 272 structures marked for demolition across the wider project.
- Mosque status
- Community members describe Shahi Masjid as a centuries-old Waqf property; some accounts date it to around 1390, while another described it as 600 years old.
- Court proceedings
- The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Indore Bench dismissed two earlier petitions, while the mosque committee pursued a further challenge scheduled for hearing.
- Simhastha 2028
- The religious gathering is held every 12 years on the banks of the Kshipra River and is expected to draw millions or crores of devotees.
Sources
Tension escalates in Ujjain over Shahi Masjid portion removal; tear gas fired as stone-pelting continues
Tear Gas, Lathi Charge In Protesters vs Cops Over Ujjain Mosque Demolition
Shahi Masjid demolition: Ujjain residents and police clash; stones pelted, tear gas fired