Online Desk: Authorities in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, demolished a mosque named Takiya and 257 homes on Saturday to make way for the Mahakaleshwar Temple Corridor Project. The demolition took place in Nizamuddin Colony under heavy police presence, with senior officials overseeing the operation. Police claimed that residents had been served notices and offered compensation.
However, many residents argued that they only received a 24-hour notice, with some stating the notices were given at 5 pm on Friday, leaving them less than 12 hours to vacate before demolition began the following morning. The rapid action has sparked concerns among the displaced families.
In Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, a demolition drive took place on Saturday as authorities razed a mosque named Takiya and 257 homes to expand the Mahakaleshwar Temple Corridor. Bulldozers began their work at sunrise, catching many residents still asleep. The loudspeakers announced the start of the operation, waking up startled occupants who hurriedly tried to salvage their belongings.
The scenes were distressing, with women and children visibly distraught. A 17-year-old girl, Sofia, fainted upon seeing her home being demolished. The government had already disbursed Rs 33 crore as part of the Rs 66 crore in compensation to the displaced families before the demolition began. This land is being cleared to create space for expanded vehicular parking and a Pravachan Hall, essential for the preparations for the 2028 Ujjain Simhastha (Kumbh).
Despite the compensation, many residents expressed their grief and frustration over the abruptness of the eviction process, which they said left them with little time to vacate. Heavy police forces were stationed in the area to maintain order and prevent resistance. Ujjain District Collector Neeraj Singh clarified that the government had completed the land acquisition process, compensating the residents, and all permanent structures, except those under court stay orders, would be demolished.
This included both residential buildings and religious structures, with the exception of 17-18 buildings under legal protection. The entire operation was closely supervised by Additional District Collector Anukul Jain and Additional SP Nitesh Bhargava, who emphasized that the administration had marked the land for construction near the Shakti Path of the Mahakal Corridor. The forceful eviction aimed to prevent any unrest, as the authorities proceeded with their ambitious plans for the upcoming Simhastha event.
