Fifteen people have been arrested in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh on Monday for allegedly attempting to disturb peace, following an altercation between protestors and police personnel during the demolition of a portion of the Shahi Masjid for a road-widening project, police said.
The injured were administered primary treatment. To bring the situation under control, police fired tear gas shells and resorted to cane charge to disperse the crowd. Later in the afternoon, a large number of Muslim women staged a protest at the site, demanding an immediate halt to the demolition drive. The court observed that the Municipal Corporation could proceed in accordance with the Ujjain Development Plan and due legal process.
“On Sunday night, the mosque committee had agreed to the demolition of a portion that constitutes less than 10% of the mosque premises. Police said a total of 20 people have been booked for stone-pelting and disturbing the peace, and 15 among them, including state AIMIM chief Mohsin Ali Khan, have been arrested.
A crowd hurled stones at security personnel deployed for the demolition drive, leaving several policemen injured, according to police. However, some social media influencers and local residents spread misinformation claiming that the entire mosque was being demolished,” said Ujjain superintendent of police Pradeep Sharma. Meanwhile, the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court on Monday dismissed a petition challenging the action related to the mosque.
