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Clashes in Ujjain Over Mosque Demolition Misled by AI Videos
Confirmed
In Short: Following clashes in Ujjain over the removal of a portion of the Shahi Masjid, Madhya Pradesh Police said the crowd was mobilised by a faction of the mosque committee and younger members misled by AI-generated videos.
Some of the videos falsely depicted the entire mosque being demolished, leading to heightened tensions and protests.
The demolition, greenlit by the MP High Court, was part of a road-widening project ahead of the 2028 Simhastha.
Police reported more than 100 Instagram accounts and registered an FIR on the complaint of Ujjain City Qazi Rehman.
The mosque complex includes a prayer hall, ablution facilities, and a 120-foot minaret.
The demolition was eventually carried out by members of the Muslim community itself.
City Qazi Khalil Qureshi Rehman appealed to people to stay away from the mosque and not respond to rumours.
The unrest followed the partial removal of the historic mosque to accommodate a road-widening project.
Police are now probing the origin and circulation of the alleged misinformation.
The situation escalated after digitally manipulated videos began circulating on social media.
The misleading visuals prompted people to gather near the site, believing a major demolition had taken place.
The incident subsequently escalated into clashes between protesters and police personnel.
What this adds
Police are investigating the role of these messages and videos and have registered FIRs under Sections 196(1), 299, 353(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) for allegedly spreading misleading and inflammatory content online.
What's confirmed
- By evening, mosque committee members could be seen demolishing the structures.
- According to The Indian Express, police said a faction of the mosque committee opposed to the demolition, along with some younger members, was allegedly misled by the videos circulating on social media.
- One of the clips reportedly showed a JCB demolishing the entire mosque a depiction that Ujjain Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma described as “completely false”.
- Ujjain Masjid clash: On Monday night, a crowd mobilised and clashed with police in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, after AI-generated videos falsely depicted the total demolition of the Shahi Masjid.
What's still developing
- Following clashes in Ujjain, over the removal of a portion of the Shahi Masjid that falls along a road being widened ahead of the 2028 Simhastha, Madhya Pradesh Police on Monday said the crowd was mobilised by a faction of the mosque committee disgruntled by the demolition.
- Sharma also said police had anticipated a reaction from a section of the mosque committee after monitoring the situation.
- The two sides were dealing with the same municipal notices even as they disputed who had the authority to speak for the mosque.
- The confrontation followed a tense night outside the Shahi Masjid, where thousands had gathered after the administration prepared to remove the portion of the mosque falling within the proposed road-widening project.
- Thousands of residents formed a human chain around the mosque on Sunday night even as police mobilised 2,500 personnel from local police stations and Rapid Action Force units.
- By Monday afternoon, however, the Madhya Pradesh High Court, hearing a writ appeal against its order for partial demolition, was informed that the Muslim side had agreed to cooperate with the authorities, and disposed of the petition.
- Ujjain SP Pradeep Sharma told The Indian Express, “One of these videos included a JCB demolishing the entire mosque, which was completely false.” The police are now examining not only the accounts that originally uploaded the material but also people who circulated it.
- Madhya Pradesh Police have said AI-generated videos showing the entire Shahi Masjid in Ujjain being demolished helped fuel rumours and mobilise a crowd before clashes broke out at the site on September 28.
- Ujjain Collector Roshan Singh said the work was being done voluntarily and described the cooperation from different communities as part of the wider road-widening exercise.
- Following the clashes, police began examining social media posts, messages, CCTV footage and drone recordings to identify those allegedly involved in the violence and the circulation of provocative material.
- In this case, police said fabricated videos depicting the complete demolition of the mosque contributed to confusion and heightened tensions around an already sensitive dispute.
- Following discussions between the administration and mosque representatives, members of the Muslim community eventually agreed to voluntarily remove the affected portion instead of allowing authorities to carry out the work using heavy machinery.