New Delhi: Ujjain was tense Monday after teargas was used to disperse a crowd which pelted stones at the police amid clashes with security forces at the site of proposed demolition of a part of the Shahi Masjid for a road-widening project.
A First Information Report was registered following the crowd control action, with some 10 people booked in connection with the violence. An unknown number of content creators were also booked over alleged inflammatory rumour-mongering that is believed to have fuelled the unrest.
The Ujjain Police had deployed high security around the Shahi Masjid Complex following protests and stone-pelting amid opposition to the proposed removal of part of the mosque ahead of the Simhastha Mahakumbh in 2028.
As an uneasy peace prevailed in this ancient city, City Qazi Khalil Qurra-e-Rahman said in a statement that the matter regarding the mosque had been resolved on Sunday night through mutual agreement. “There is no situation that requires anyone to visit the site. The task that was pledged to be completed is currently being carried out. Everyone is urged not to pay attention to any kind of rumour and to avoid stepping out of their homes to visit the site unnecessarily based on such rumours.”
Ujjain Superintendent of Police (SP) Pradeep Sharma told ThePrint that all communities and sections of society are continuously extending their cooperation and support in their respective areas.
On Monday, demolition work, initiated by the mosque committee itself, was underway at the Shahi Masjid. “As a precautionary measure, a full security cover was established, and entry was prohibited for everyone. However, certain miscreants attempted to create a disturbance and resorted to stone-pelting,” Sharma said. He said that the police personnel present at the scene responded by using teargas and mild force to disperse the crowd.
Another senior police officer said that leaders from the Muslim community have also issued video statements, ensuring that people remain calm. “The situation is now under control. The demolition work by the mosque committee is continuing steadily,” said the officer. He added that police teams had conducted thorough briefings and multiple meetings to discuss different aspects around the city’s Chhatri Chowk area.
The SP said some police personnel sustained minor injuries during the stone-pelting incident. The entire area is being monitored via surveillance cameras and drones. The police is also keeping a watch on social media. “Individuals who came from outside the district to incite trouble were detained by the police at the border late last night and have been taken into custody at various police stations. We will now identify the perpetrators using camera and drone footage and register FIRs against those found involved,” the SP said.
“An attempt to block the road was also made by some women; after being counselled and shown video footage of the situation, they withdrew the blockade. The road is open. If anyone engages in such activities, strict action will be taken against them,” the SP said.
Also Read: 2022 Khargone Ram Navami violence: Why an MP court released all 11 accused despite 13 witnesses
Simhastha Mahakumbh 2028
Roshan Singh, District Collector, Ujjain, said in a statement that the Simhastha Mahakumbh is scheduled to be held in Ujjain in 2028, and a large number of devotees are expected to attend. “Road widening and other construction works are being carried out in accordance with the master plan to ensure the convenience of devotees and to improve overall arrangements,” Singh said.
People from all religions and communities are voluntarily cooperating in these development activities. Houses, shops, and religious structures falling within the scope of the road-widening project are being voluntarily removed by the respective community members. He said a portion of the Shahi Masjid at Chhatri Chowk is also being voluntarily removed by members of the community.
Ujjain resident Zeeshan Khan told ThePrint that the demolition work was supposed to be carried out on Sunday, but was halted after a protest began. “Locals remained on guard till 3-4 am on Monday, after the mosque committee and the government came to a conclusion to remove the 3-foot structure. The structure will be broken by members of the Muslim community itself. However, on Monday morning, rumours floated around the densely populated neighbourhood, and some people took to the streets.”
Court go-ahead in place
The Shahi Masjid Waqf Panchayat Mochiyaan had approached the High Court of Madhya Pradesh Bench at Indore, challenging the corporation’s notices of demolition and its final order. They said the action violated their fundamental right to practice their religion and that the corporation had not followed proper procedure in the matter.
The petitioners said that the mosque was an ancient, registered Waqf property, and that the demolition would tear down a portion of its prayer hall (Jamat Khana), a 120-foot minaret, and the Mazhar Chouk Shahi. The petitioners further submitted that the Ujjain Development Master Plan 2035 does “not demand verbatim or rigid implementation.”
The counsel for the Ujjain Municipal Corporation submitted that all the “constructions and religious places causing a hindrance in the road-widening process are being treated equally and are being removed in the larger public interest”. About 80 religious structures are being shifted/removed across the city for the road widening as per the master plan. Moreover, 11 religious structures – 10 temples and a mosque—have already been removed on the road in question, the counsel told the court, further submitting that that a very small portion of the petitioner’s total area, particularly the constructed part, is being removed as per the master plan, and that it does not even amount to a tenth of the total construction.
In his order, Judge Sandeep N. Bhatt said, “Considering the upcoming event of the Simhastha Kumbh 2028, whereby the expectations of crores of devotees are required to be kept in mind, as well as the need to provide better facilities and to manage the traffic of such events; and considering the situation of the premises in question, which is almost opposite to the Mahakaleshwar Temple and very near to the Kshipra river; and for the consideration of the larger public safety and larger public interest, the action taken by the respondent is found to be after following the necessary provisions of law.”
He further said: “The impugned order was passed after considering the objections raised by the petitioner. Therefore, no interference is called for. Both the petitions are found meritless and deserve to be dismissed. Accordingly, they are dismissed.”
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)
Also Read: Madhya Pradesh has 4 hotspots, satellite-based pollution map shows