Full Breakdown
Ujjain’s Shahi Masjid Partial Demolition Sparks Protests Amid Road-Widening for Simhastha 2028
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On the morning of September 28 2026, police in Ujjain deployed tear-gas shells and lathi-charges after stone-pelting erupted at the Shahi Masjid complex. The disturbance followed the municipal corporation’s removal of a three-foot section of the mosque that lies within a road-widening corridor slated for the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh pilgrimage. Fifteen people were detained and FIRs lodged against seven individuals, including several social-media content creators. The demolition proceeded after the mosque committee voluntarily began dismantling the affected portion, citing an overnight settlement with the administration.
Background & Context
Ujjain’s Development Plan 2035 calls for widening the Kanthal Crossing–Gopal Mandir stretch to 15 metres to accommodate the expected influx of pilgrims for Simhastha 2028, a twelve-yearly Hindu gathering on the Kshipra River. The Ujjain Municipal Corporation issued its first notice to the Shahi Masjid committee on August 14 2026, with further notices on August 21 and August 27, culminating in a final notice on September 1. The mosque, registered as a Waqf property, challenged the notices in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, arguing violations of Articles 14, 25, 26 and 300A of the Constitution.
Official Statements & Responses
“Extensive development work is underway for ‘Simhastha 2028’, and a truly exemplary level of cooperation is being witnessed from all quarters; be it individuals, religious groups or the community at large.” — Ujjain District Magistrate Raushan
“Complete calm prevails at the site. The members of the Shahi Masjid Committee are themselves removing the portion of the structure affected by the road-widening project. Yesterday, some individuals attempted to create an unpleasant situation, and the strictest possible action is being taken against them.” — Collector Roshan Kumar Singh
“We have deployed adequate force to maintain peace in the area… We will now identify the perpetrators using CCTV and drone footage and register FIRs against those found involved.” — Police Pradeep Sharma
Criticism & Opposition
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi condemned the demolition as “the height of hatred,” urging the state to seek an alternative alignment. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi argued that the episode validates his parliamentary concerns about the Waqf Amendment law, claiming it enables authorities to seize Muslim religious properties. Imam Mohammad Ibrahim of the Shahi Masjid asserted that the structure dates back to 1390 and should be excluded from any road-widening work, labeling the removal of even a small portion as a threat to the mosque’s integrity.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents said a large crowd gathered overnight on September 27, staying inside the mosque to block demolition. Early on September 28, stone-pelting triggered police to fire tear-gas and conduct a lathi-charge. AI-generated videos depicting the mosque’s demolition circulated on social media, prompting FIRs against more than 100 Instagram accounts. After the settlement, community volunteers began dismantling the agreed three-foot section themselves, while police maintained a “full security perimeter” and prohibited entry.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Age of the mosque: Imam Ibrahim claims a 636-year heritage (construction in 1390); heritage databases note the exact date is undocumented.
- Length of the road stretch: Government releases cite ? 900 metres; other sources mention ? 730 metres.
- Extent of demolition: Initial notices referenced ? 11 feet; the settlement reduced it to three feet, yet some media continued to report the larger figure.