Ujjain Mosque Demolition Protest: Police Use Tear Gas, Detain 15

The Ujjain mosque demolition protest turned tense on Monday, September 28, 2026. Protesters threw stones at police, and security forces responded with tear gas and a baton charge during a road-widening project ahead of the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh. The dispute centres on the historic Shahi Masjid in Ujjain, a city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Geo News

Ujjain’s police chief said 15 people had been detained so far. Meanwhile, community members used chisels and hammers to remove walls and metal grilles from the affected section of the mosque. Outlook IndiaFree Press Journal

What Happened During the Ujjain Mosque Demolition Protest

The unrest began a day earlier. A large crowd gathered near the mosque on Sunday and stayed through the night. According to one local resident, the work was planned for Sunday but stopped after the protest began. Geo NewsThePrint

On Monday morning, workers carrying chisels and hammers entered the mosque at about 7:30 am, and removal work started at about 8:15 am. However, social media posts claiming that a bulldozer was demolishing the mosque likely drew people to nearby Tanki Chowk. Free Press JournalFree Press Journal

Soon after, the situation turned tense. Police fired tear gas, used batons on the crowd, and brought the area under control by about 12:30 pm, after which work at the mosque resumed. Free Press Journal

In addition, some police officers suffered minor injuries. Women protesting the demolition also blocked a road at Naka No. 5, and a Crime Branch inspector cut her hand while police moved them away. Markets in Chhatri Chowk, Sarafa, and several nearby areas stayed closed. Geo NewsETV Bharat

Why Part of the Ujjain Mosque Is Being Removed

The work is part of preparations for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu religious gathering held in Ujjain every 12 years. Authorities are widening a 900-metre stretch from Kanthal Square to Gopal Mandir to 15 metres to ease traffic for the large number of pilgrims expected. Google Translate

Other buildings also fall in the road’s path. For example, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav began the demolition of his more than 50-year-old family home in the city a day before the mosque work began. ETV Bharat

The exact size of the affected section differs across reports. One local report puts it at about 4.5 by 9 feet, while another says around 11 feet of the mosque falls within the planned road line. Free Press JournalGeo News

The mosque’s age is also unclear. Local residents say it is 636 years old, but its exact age remains a subject of debate. Free Press JournalGoogle Translate

Court Ruling Behind the Ujjain Mosque Demolition

The legal process began weeks earlier. The Ujjain Municipal Corporation told the mosque committee on August 14 that part of the building blocked the road project. India News Network

Later, the Madhya Pradesh High Court allowed the partial removal on September 9. The court found that the correct procedures had been followed and that affected parties had enough chance to raise objections. Free Press JournalIndia News Network

Still, the mosque side raised concerns. The committee said the work could affect key parts of the mosque, including the prayer hall and a well-known minaret. Likewise, the mosque’s imam warned that changing even part of the building could affect the rest of it. India News NetworkGeo News

Arrests After the Ujjain Mosque Protest

Police have taken legal action after the clashes. Officers registered a case against seven people and detained 15, including some social media content creators. Outlook India

Police also blame online rumours for part of the trouble. According to police, one widely shared clip showed a bulldozer destroying the entire mosque, which the Ujjain Superintendent of Police called “completely false.” Police said the investigation has led to 15 arrests so far, and officers have also checked more than 100 Instagram accounts. Free Press JournalFree Press Journal

Separately, police took Mohsin Ali Khan, the Madhya Pradesh chief of the AIMIM party, into custody while he was travelling to Ujjain over the issue. ETV Bharat

What Officials and Community Leaders Say

Local officials say the work has community support. Ujjain Collector Roshan Singh said people were voluntarily removing homes and religious buildings in the road’s path, including part of the Shahi Masjid. He also said that rumours of a forced demolition triggered the unrest. ETV BharatGeo News

Similarly, the City Qazi said in a statement that the matter had been settled on Sunday night through mutual agreement. Local leaders also called for calm and urged the community to cooperate. ThePrint India News Network

What Happens Next After the Ujjain Mosque Demolition Protest

For now, the situation appears calmer. An uneasy calm returned to Chhatri Chowk late on Monday as the removal work continued under tight security. Police are also monitoring social media closely. Free Press Journal, ThePrint

However, more religious sites stand along the planned routes. In the KD Gate area, Muslim residents opposed an earlier attempt to remove parts of two other mosques about 27 days ago, and another mosque stands in the middle of a road marked for widening. As a result, officials will likely face more talks with local communities as the Simhastha 2028 work moves forward.

FAQs

Q1. Why is part of the Ujjain mosque being demolished?
A section of the Shahi Masjid falls in the path of a road-widening project for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2028. The Madhya Pradesh High Court allowed the partial removal on September 9.

Q2. Is the whole Shahi Masjid being demolished?
No. Officials and police say only a small section is being removed. Police called a video showing the full mosque being destroyed false.

Q3. How many people were detained after the Ujjain protest?
Police said 15 people were detained, and a case was registered against seven. Later reports describe these as arrests.

Q4. Who is removing the mosque section?
Members of the Muslim community are removing it by hand after an agreement with officials on Sunday night.

Q5. What is the Simhastha Kumbh Mela?
It is a major Hindu religious festival held in Ujjain every 12 years. The next one is in 2028.