Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh: Complete calm prevailed at the Shahi Masjid site in Ujjain on Tuesday, where the removal of a portion of the mosque for a road-widening project was set to resume under heavy security, District Collector Roshan Kumar Singh said. Members of the Shahi Masjid Committee were themselves removing the affected portion after a settlement with the administration. The development came a day after clashes between police and a crowd at the site, during which police used tear gas and baton charges after incidents of stone-pelting.
The dispute centres on a portion of the Shahi Masjid that falls within the alignment of a road-widening project in Ujjain. The project involves widening a roughly 900-metre stretch between Kanthal crossing and Gopal Mandir to 15 metres as part of preparations for Simhastha Kumbh 2028, when large numbers of pilgrims are expected to visit the city. The wider project is expected to affect 272 structures, with the state government having sanctioned around Rs 9.8 crore for the work.
The mosque became part of the dispute because a section of the structure was identified as falling within the proposed road alignment. Members of the Muslim community had opposed the removal and had sought an alternative alignment.
The Ujjain Municipal Corporation issued notices for removal of the affected portion, leading the mosque authorities to approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
On September 9, a single-judge bench dismissed petitions challenging the proposed removal. The petitioners then filed appeals before the High Court's Indore bench.
The court had noted that the road-widening exercise was also affecting other structures, including religious sites. The civic body told the court that more than 80 structures, most of them temples, had already been removed as part of the wider project. The court also considered the administration's argument that the widening was required to manage traffic and movement of pilgrims during Simhastha 2028.
On Monday, the appeal was disposed of after the mosque committee and the administration reached a settlement.
According to the committee's advocate Kuldeep Pathak, the administration had initially sought 9.5 feet of space, but the committee agreed to remove a three-foot portion of the structure.
Under the settlement, the administration also agreed to provide alternative arrangements for shops affected by the project, including additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR), compensation according to standard acquisition norms, and shifting of the minaret to another location within the mosque complex. The High Court directed both sides to adhere to the terms of the settlement.
Despite the agreement, a crowd gathered at the site on Monday as the removal work began. Police said stones were thrown at personnel, following which tear gas and a baton charge were used to disperse the crowd. Fifteen people were detained and seven were booked, according to police.
More than 2,500 police personnel and officers were deployed across Ujjain, with Rapid Action Force personnel also brought in. Police and the administration appealed to people to maintain calm and avoid rumours or misinformation.
On Tuesday, the situation was reported to be calm, and the mosque committee resumed removal of the agreed portion under heavy security. The latest development follows the court-recorded settlement between the committee and the administration.
(This story is compiled by Naina Mariam Biji with inputs from PTI and ANI)