Ujjain Mosque Dispute Triggers Protests as Road Project Moves Forward

Bareen Media – Protests broke out in the Indian city of Ujjain on Monday after authorities began removing a portion of the historic Shahi Masjid as part of a road widening project ahead of the 2028 Simhastha festival.

Local authorities say about 11 feet of the mosque falls within the planned road alignment. The Madhya Pradesh High Court had earlier allowed the authorities to proceed with the partial removal.

Tensions rose around the mosque as members of the Muslim community gathered to oppose the move. Police and protesters clashed, with stones reportedly thrown at security personnel and police using tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Security forces were deployed in large numbers around the area as authorities continued preparations for the road project. The dispute has also drawn attention to the protection of religious sites during the city’s infrastructure expansion ahead of Simhastha 2028.