Authorities supervised the removal of shops surrounding the Shahi Masjid in Ujjain, India, on Tuesday, while bringing in scaffolding materials for the mosque. Senior officials closely monitored the heightened security measures a day after violent clashes erupted at the site.
Tuesday morning saw a calm atmosphere, but with a significant police presence maintaining order. The unrest on Monday was triggered when part of the mosque was dismantled as part of a road-widening initiative ahead of the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela preparations. A large crowd confronted law enforcement, prompting police to deploy tear gas and batons to disperse protesters who had begun throwing stones.
More than 2,500 police personnel, including Rapid Action Force units, were deployed across the city. Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma was present at the scene, and a citywide alert was issued to prevent further disturbances.
District Collector Raushan Kumar clarified that the mosque section at Kshatriya Chowk, which falls within the road expansion zone, was being removed voluntarily by community members and the mosque’s religious group. He urged the public to disregard rumors that could escalate tensions.
In a significant development, the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed the case after the Shahi Masjid Committee and state authorities reached a settlement. Advocate Kuldeep Pathak, representing the committee, explained that the appeal had been heard by a division bench following an earlier dismissal by a single judge. The agreement limits the demolition to approximately three feet of the mosque, a reduction from the nine and a half feet initially proposed by the administration. Demolition work on this portion has already started.
In exchange, the administration committed to providing alternative arrangements for the displaced shops, including additional floor space, compensation acquisition norms, and relocating the mosque’s minaret within the complex. The court has instructed both parties to strictly comply with the terms of the settlement.
The dispute began over the weekend when hundreds gathered overnight at the mosque to protest the planned partial demolition, which authorities said was necessary for widening a roughly 900-meter stretch of road from Kanthal Chowk to Gopal Mandir. Mosque officials opposed the plan, with the imam warning that even partial structural changes could compromise the entire building. At the peak of tensions on Monday, around 2,000 police officers were deployed, and barricades restricted access around the mosque.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Office expressed concern over what it described as a systematic, state-backed demolition of Islamic religious sites in India. The spokesperson highlighted that such actions violate the 1950 India-Pakistan agreement protecting religious minorities and India’s Places of Worship Act of 1991, which mandates that places of worship retain their religious character as of August 15, 1947.
The spokesperson warned that this ongoing campaign threatens centuries-old heritage sites, citing Ajmer Sharif and the Saharanpur collectorate mosque as examples. The 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid was referenced as a stark reminder of an ideology rooted in religious intolerance, prejudice, and hatred.
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