Hundreds of Muslims gathered inside the historic Shahi Masjid in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, to oppose plans to remove part of the mosque as part of a road-widening project being carried out ahead of the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh pilgrimage.

The overnight sit-in came as authorities prepared to remove a portion of the mosque located near the Mahakaleshwar Temple and the Kshipra River. Community members said they were determined to protect the mosque and called for religious sites to be excluded from the road-widening project.

The proposed action concerns part of the prayer hall, a 120-foot minaret and the Mazhar Chouk Shahi area. The Ujjain Municipal Corporation plans to widen the road to 15 meters as part of preparations for the large Hindu pilgrimage expected to draw millions of visitors to the city in 2028.

According to reports, large numbers of worshippers remained inside the mosque in shifts after performing the Zuhr prayer, ensuring that people were continuously present at the site. Police erected barricades around the mosque and deployed a large security presence.

The mosque's management has argued that the Shahi Masjid is a historic religious structure and is registered as Waqf property. Representatives of the Muslim community have urged authorities to find an alternative solution that would allow the road project to proceed without affecting the mosque.

The community's representatives have also pointed to historical documents concerning the property, arguing that previous authorities recognized the mosque and protected the remaining structure following earlier land-acquisition proceedings.

The dispute reached the Madhya Pradesh High Court after mosque administrators challenged municipal demolition notices. On Sept. 9, Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt dismissed two petitions challenging the proposed removal, finding that the municipal authorities had followed the applicable procedures and provided the mosque administrators an opportunity to present their objections.

The court cited the need to improve traffic management and public facilities ahead of Simhastha 2028, while the petitioners argued that the proposed action would affect important parts of the mosque complex.

The situation became increasingly tense on Monday as authorities moved ahead with the road-widening operation. Reports said clashes broke out between protesters and police, with stones thrown and police using tear gas to disperse crowds. Additional security forces, including the Rapid Action Force, were deployed in the area.

Earlier in the morning, reports indicated that authorities had temporarily held back from carrying out the removal while police attempted to negotiate with mosque representatives and persuade protesters to leave the site.

Later reports said the authorities proceeded with the removal of a portion of the structure, while protests continued around the mosque. The developing situation has prompted renewed concern among members of the Muslim community over the protection of the historic place of worship.

The dispute comes as Ujjain undergoes a major infrastructure expansion ahead of Simhastha 2028, with road-widening projects planned along routes expected to carry large numbers of pilgrims.

For the Muslim community, however, the Shahi Masjid is not simply part of the city's built environment but a place of worship and an important part of its religious heritage. Community representatives continue to seek legal and administrative avenues to protect the mosque while calling for a solution that respects both public infrastructure needs and the sanctity of the place of worship. (ILKHA)