Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh – Communal tensions flared in Ujjain late Friday night during the Khati Samaj’s (OBC community) Jagannath Rath Yatra when unidentified individuals from the crowd hurled slippers, shoes, and cow dung cakes at the historic Shahi Masjid located at Chhatri Chowk, reported the Siasat.
Videos capturing the incident quickly went viral on social media, triggering widespread outrage and condemnation from across the country. Many online users expressed anger over the desecration of a place of worship, calling for immediate action and accountability.
Local resident Abrar Ahmed filed a formal complaint, prompting the Kharak Kuan police to register an FIR under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS), which pertains to “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.”
Despite the gravity of the incident, no arrests have been made yet. Police officials claim that they are in the process of scanning CCTV footage from Chhatri Chowk to identify the perpetrators. “We are analyzing video evidence and appropriate action will be taken against those responsible for insulting the Shahi Masjid,” said Station House Officer Rajkumar Malviya.
While the law and order situation in Ujjain remains under control for now, community members and rights groups have raised concerns over the delayed response and lack of immediate accountability.
This is not the first such communal flashpoint in Madhya Pradesh. Similar tensions were reported in other parts of the state during religious events earlier this year, heightening fears of growing intolerance.
The incident underscores the fragile nature of communal harmony in religiously sensitive zones and has reignited debates over the politicization of religious processions and their encroachment near minority places of worship.
