Dome of Ujjain Shahi Masjid damaged during minaret demolition

Parts of the historic Shahi Masjid in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, including sections of its dome and first floor, were damaged on Thursday when the mosque’s minaret was demolished, leaving members of the local Muslim community distressed.

The administration described the damage as accidental, saying the machinery being used to bring down the minaret malfunctioned during the demolition.

The demolition followed an agreement under which local Muslims had voluntarily agreed to remove a three-foot hanging slab and the minaret as part of a road-widening project. The community had also cooperated with the administration in carrying out the demolition peacefully, Maktoob Media reported.

Ujjain Shahr Qazi Khaleeq ur Rahman expressed grief over the incident and said the machinery had failed while the administration was bringing down the minaret, causing it to fall onto the dome and damage a substantial portion of the mosque’s first floor. He appealed to Muslims to remain calm, maintain law and order and avoid gatherings or provocative statements, stressing that the incident appeared to have been accidental.

The Qazi also said reconstruction of the demolished portion would begin soon and that parts of the mosque that were not covered by the agreement would be repaired.

However, some members of the local community questioned the administration’s handling of the demolition. One resident alleged that officials had proceeded with the minaret demolition despite the community’s offer to carry it out manually. The resident claimed that the administration had cited pressure from higher authorities and argued that the incident had undermined the trust placed in officials.

A Hafiz associated with the mosque also described the damage as an unforeseen accident, saying the demolition team had been brought in from outside in haste. He appealed for peace and expressed hope that the mosque would be restored.

Following the incident, police reportedly barricaded Muslim-majority areas around the mosque and imposed restrictions on movement amid heightened tensions. The area within roughly two kilometres of the Shahi Masjid was also reported to have come under increased police restrictions.

The incident was compounded by the reported death of Arshad Rahmani, a former president of the mosque committee, who allegedly suffered a heart attack after learning about the damage to the mosque.

The demolition is linked to the road-widening work being undertaken as part of preparations for the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh. The administration had sought to widen the road to 15 metres, prompting protests and legal challenges from members of the Muslim community.

After a three-night vigil inside the mosque against the proposed demolition, the mosque’s representative committee reached an agreement with the administration to surrender the three-foot hanging slab and the minaret. The agreement reportedly stipulated that the minaret would subsequently be reconstructed on another part of the terrace so that the temple located behind the mosque would remain visible.

The situation in Ujjain remained tense but calm following Thursday’s incident, with heightened police presence and barricades around Muslim neighbourhoods and the mosque.