Ujjain: Tear gas fired as police, protesters clash during demonstration against mosque demolition

The police in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain on Monday fired tear gas at Muslim residents protesting against the proposed demolition of a portion of a mosque, ANI reported.

Stones were thrown at the police personnel during the clashes, the news agency reported.

The administration has sought to demolish a portion of the mosque to widen the road ahead of the Hindu religious gathering called the Simhastha to be held in March 2028. The gathering is held every 12 years on the banks of the Kshipra River.

A sit-in protest against the proposal had started at the Shahi Masjid on Sunday, with some demonstrators staying inside the premises through the night to prevent it from being demolished, The Indian Express reported.

Stone-pelting was reported in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh amid protests against the proposed removal of the Shahi Masjid for the Simhastha Kumbh preparations. Police fired tear gas shells to control the crowd. pic.twitter.com/17d2LhjMeL— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) September 28, 2026

On Sunday night, the police and municipal teams brought heavy machinery to the area. Several companies of the police had also been deployed, The Indian Express reported. The administration was reportedly trying to persuade residents and members of the committee that manages the mosque to cooperate with the proposed demolition.

Tensions escalated on Monday as the Ujjain Municipal Corporation began to tear down portions of the mosque, The Indian Express reported.

Before the clashes, Superintendent...

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