AI Videos Showing Entire Mosque Demolition, Misguided Crowd: What Triggered Ujjain Clashes? | India News

Last Updated:September 29, 2026, 09:26 IST

The situation turned violent when protesters allegedly pelted stones at security personnel deployed near the mosque. Police used tear gas and lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.

Security personnel disperse tear gas shells following stone-pelting incidents during protests against the proposed removal of a portion of the ‘Shahi Masjid’ for road widening, in Ujjain. (Source: PTI)

AI-generated videos falsely depicting the demolition of the entire Shahi Masjid in Ujjain helped fuel rumours and mobilise a crowd that later clashed with police, Madhya Pradesh Police said on Monday, according to The Indian Express.

The unrest erupted amid the removal of a portion of the historic mosque that falls within the alignment of a road being widened ahead of the 2028 Simhastha.

Videos Misguided Crowd

Police said a section of younger members associated with the mosque committee had been misled by the fabricated videos circulating on social media.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Ujjain SP Pradeep Sharma said, “One of these videos included a JCB demolishing the entire mosque, which was completely false.”

According to police, confusion over the extent of the proposed removal contributed to the mobilisation of people around the mosque.

Also Read: Madhya Pradesh HC Rejects Appeal Against Demolition Of Portion Of Ujjain Shahi Masjid

Authorities had planned to remove only the portion affected by the road-widening project, while the demolition was subsequently undertaken by members of the Muslim community themselves after an understanding was reached with the civic administration.

Ujjain Clashes

The situation turned violent on Monday morning when protesters allegedly pelted stones at security personnel deployed near the mosque. Police used tear gas and lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.

A large security contingent, including Rapid Action Force personnel, had already been deployed in the area following an overnight gathering.

Five FIRs Registered, 15 Arrested

Police are now investigating the origin and circulation of the alleged misinformation. Officers are examining the social media accounts that first posted the material as well as users who repeatedly shared it.

“We have registered five FIRs against as many social media pages or influencers. The content was purely based on rumours and was aggressive in nature. We are also identifying people who shared this content over and over again,” Sharma said, while speaking to The Indian Express.

The police investigation has so far led to 15 arrests, while more than 100 Instagram accounts have been reported. An FIR has also been registered following a complaint by Ujjain City Qazi Khalil Qureshi Rehman, The Indian Express reported.

Also Read: Tear Gas, Stone-Pelting In Ujjain As Crowd Clashes With Police Over Shahi Masjid Demolition

The Shahi Masjid Dispute

The dispute centres on a portion of the Shahi Masjid that lies along a road proposed for widening as part of preparations for the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court had cleared the way for the partial removal on September 9. On Monday, the Indore bench was informed that the Muslim side had reached an agreement with the Ujjain Municipal Corporation, following which two related writ appeals were disposed of.

The court also directed that assurances given by the Ujjain Municipal Corporation, along with its interim notice concerning the mosque, would remain binding on the civic body.

The mosque dispute has also exposed differences between factions over the administration of the Shahi Masjid’s Waqf property. Separate petitions had been filed by two groups, each claiming authority to represent the mosque and respond to municipal notices.

With inputs from PTI

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What triggered the violent clashes and protests at the Shahi Masjid in Ujjain?

The unrest was fueled by AI-generated videos falsely showing the entire Shahi Masjid being demolished, which misled a crowd to mobilize and clash with security forces. The tension centered around the partial removal of a portion of the historic mosque for a road-widening project ahead of the 2028 Simhastha.

What legal actions have authorities taken following the social media misinformation in Ujjain?

Police registered five FIRs against social media pages and influencers spreading aggressive rumors, leading to 15 arrests and the reporting of over 100 Instagram accounts for investigation. An additional FIR was filed following a complaint by Ujjain City Qazi Khalil Qureshi Rehman.

What was the legal status of the Shahi Masjid demolition prior to the protests?

The Madhya Pradesh High Court cleared the way for the partial removal of the mosque on September 9 as part of road-widening preparations for the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh Mela. Furthermore, the Muslim community reached an agreement with the Ujjain Municipal Corporation to handle the demolition of the affected portion themselves.

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Prisha Vibhavari

Prisha is the Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than 10 years of experience in national and international news. She specialises in editorial leadership, sharp news judgment, and high-impact st…Read More

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