Police fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters in Ujjain on Monday after stone-pelting and other disturbances broke out during protests over the proposed demolition of the Shahi Masjid for road-widening work linked to preparations for the Simhastha Kumbh.
Rapid Action Force personnel have also been deployed in the area, where the situation remained tense. More than 2,500 police personnel and officers are stationed across the affected zone, while Ujjain Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma is overseeing the arrangements. An alert has been issued throughout the city.
Sharma appealed to residents to maintain peace and cooperate with the police. He said the security measures had been planned in advance and that action was being taken against those involved in stone-pelting or attempts to disturb public order.
According to Sharma, the mosque committee itself had begun the demolition work, which was continuing under a comprehensive security cordon. Entry to the area had been prohibited as a precautionary measure. He said some miscreants nevertheless tried to create unrest, prompting police to use tear gas and mild force to disperse the crowd.
Leaders from the Muslim community were also issuing video appeals urging people to remain calm, Sharma said, adding that the situation was subsequently brought under control and the demolition work continued.
Police preparations included briefings, multiple security meetings and the deployment of CCTV cameras and drones to monitor the area. Sharma said some police personnel suffered minor injuries during the stone-pelting but remained on duty and alert. Officials were also monitoring social media platforms.
Sharma further said that some people from outside the district had arrived with the intention of provoking trouble. Several of them were detained at the district border late on Sunday night and taken to different police stations, he said. Those involved would be identified using CCTV and drone footage, after which First Information Reports would be registered against them.
A group of women also attempted to block a road, but the blockade was removed after police counselled them and showed them video footage of the situation. The road was later reopened, Sharma said, warning that strict action would follow if further attempts were made to disrupt movement.
He maintained that the work was being carried out through the mosque committee with the consent of those concerned and again urged people to extend their cooperation to the police.
Earlier, a section of the Shahi Masjid had been demolished by community members as part of the road-widening project. Differences subsequently emerged among other groups over the development.
During the protest, people attempted to advance through nearby lanes, with some women being pushed to the front as they tried to move ahead. Police personnel deployed at the site were also targeted with stones.
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