Tensions flared in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain on Monday, September 28, after protesters and police confronted each other near the Shahi Masjid, where part of the religious structure is affected by a municipal road-widening project.
Stone-pelting was reported during the confrontation, prompting police to fire tear-gas shells to disperse the gathering. A substantial police presence remained deployed around the mosque complex as authorities sought to prevent further escalation.
The immediate confrontation followed two days of resistance by residents and members of the Muslim community against the proposed removal of part of the mosque. The widening project forms part of infrastructure preparations for Simhastha 2028, which is expected to bring a very large number of pilgrims to Ujjain.
Why Is There a Dispute Over the Shahi Masjid?
At the centre of the controversy is a road-widening project along the route between Kanthal Square and Gopal Mandir.
The Ujjain Municipal Corporation plans to widen the road to 15 metres as part of preparations intended to improve traffic movement ahead of Simhastha 2028. A portion of the Shahi Masjid falls within the proposed road alignment.
The mosque is registered as Waqf property. Members of the mosque committee and local Muslim community have argued that the authorities should consider an alternative alignment or spare religious structures while widening the road.
Imam Mohammad Ibrahim has claimed that the mosque dates to 1390 and argued that religious sites should be excluded from the project. The date is a claim attributed to the imam and should not be treated as independently established here.
Protesters Gathered Overnight
The confrontation did not begin suddenly on Monday morning.
Hundreds of residents and community members had gathered around the mosque on Sunday as municipal authorities prepared to proceed with the project. Police and municipal teams arrived with heavy machinery, but the gathering prevented the administration from immediately carrying out the planned operation. Some community members remained inside the mosque overnight.
Ujjain Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma had earlier told The Indian Express that authorities were trying to resolve the dispute through dialogue and had deployed sufficient personnel to maintain peace.
Stone-Pelting Reported, Police Use Tear Gas
The situation deteriorated on Monday morning.
Multiple reports, including Hindustan Times, The Indian Express and NDTV, said stone-pelting occurred near the site as the dispute intensified. Police subsequently used tear-gas shells to disperse the crowd and regain control of the area.
A heavy police deployment remained in place around the Shahi Masjid complex. Rapid Action Force personnel were also reported at the scene.
The available reports establish that stones were thrown during the confrontation, but early reporting does not conclusively establish the identity of every person responsible. For that reason, it is more precise to report that stone-pelting occurred rather than attribute it broadly to an entire community or group.
Police Officer Reported Injured
Free Press Journal reported that Crime Branch Inspector Pushpa Panchal suffered an injury to her hand during the unrest.
Given that the situation is developing, casualty and injury figures should be treated cautiously until authorities issue comprehensive official information.
What Has the Madhya Pradesh High Court Said?
The dispute also has a significant legal dimension.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court had earlier dismissed two petitions challenging the Ujjain Municipal Corporation's decision concerning the portion of the mosque falling within the road alignment.
According to The Indian Express, petitioners argued that the proposed action would affect part of the prayer hall, a 120-foot minaret and Mazhar Chowk Shahi, and raised constitutional and property-rights arguments.
Justice Sandeep N Bhatt held that the municipal corporation had followed the statutory process and had provided affected parties an opportunity to submit objections. The court also rejected the argument that the mosque was being singled out because it was a religious structure, noting action affecting other religious structures under the widening exercise.
That legal background is important because the dispute is not simply about a spontaneous demolition attempt; it involves a municipal infrastructure plan, objections from the affected community and litigation over the proposed removal.
Why Is Ujjain Widening the Road?
The administration says the work is part of wider infrastructure preparations for Simhastha 2028, a major religious gathering in Ujjain.
The Kanthal-Gopal Mandir route is being widened to improve movement and reduce congestion as authorities prepare for the influx of pilgrims.
Community representatives, meanwhile, have argued that the mosque should be spared and that alternative options for widening the road should be considered.
These competing positions—the administration's infrastructure plan and the community's objections concerning a religious property—form the core of the continuing dispute.
Security Remains Tight in Ujjain
Security had already been strengthened before Monday's confrontation.
More than 600 police personnel participated in a flag march on Sunday across several police-station areas, with personnel from the Rapid Action Force and Special Task Force also involved, according to Free Press Journal.
By Monday morning, heavy security remained around the Shahi Masjid area as authorities dealt with the confrontation and continued efforts to maintain order.
Because this is a developing story as of September 28, 2026, details concerning further police action, injuries, detentions and the status of the disputed structure may change as authorities release additional information.
What Is Confirmed So Far?
Current reporting supports several central facts: the dispute concerns the removal of part of the Shahi Masjid affected by a 15-metre road-widening project; residents and Muslim community members had gathered to oppose the move; stone-pelting occurred during Monday's confrontation; police used tear gas; and significant security forces were deployed.
Claims about precisely who initiated every stage of the confrontation, however, should not be presented as established fact without stronger official evidence.
Sources
Primary sources: The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, NDTV and ANI-based reporting, with additional local reporting from Free Press Journal. The Indian Express also provides reporting on the Madhya Pradesh High Court proceedings and statements from police and community representatives.
The Indian Express — Ujjain Shahi Masjid clash report
