📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Uzair889
Religion
Police Deploy Tear Gas as Protest Erupts Over Road Widening Near Shahi Mosque, Ujjain
✍️ Amar Ujala · Ujjain
🗓 28 Sep 2026, 10:31 AM
👁 19
A crowd of Muslim residents clashed with police after the state government announced road‑widening work near the historic Shahi Mosque in Ujjain, prompting the use of tear‑gas shells.
Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh – On the day the municipal authorities began preparations for a road‑widening project that would affect the area surrounding the Shahi Mosque, a sizable group of local Muslim residents gathered to protest, fearing that the work could damage the heritage site.
Police units arrived to control the crowd and, after tensions escalated, fired tear‑gas shells to disperse the demonstrators. The confrontation resulted in a brief but intense standoff before both sides reached a temporary understanding, allowing the protest to be called off.
The dispute has now moved to the legal arena, with the High Court scheduled to hear arguments concerning the portion of the mosque that may be impacted by the construction. Authorities have indicated that the project will proceed only after a clear resolution is obtained.
No injuries were reported, and the police have not released the exact number of tear‑gas canisters used. The incident underscores the delicate balance between urban development and the preservation of religious heritage in Indian cities.
Police units arrived to control the crowd and, after tensions escalated, fired tear‑gas shells to disperse the demonstrators. The confrontation resulted in a brief but intense standoff before both sides reached a temporary understanding, allowing the protest to be called off.
The dispute has now moved to the legal arena, with the High Court scheduled to hear arguments concerning the portion of the mosque that may be impacted by the construction. Authorities have indicated that the project will proceed only after a clear resolution is obtained.
No injuries were reported, and the police have not released the exact number of tear‑gas canisters used. The incident underscores the delicate balance between urban development and the preservation of religious heritage in Indian cities.