UJJAIN — Tension flared in Ujjain on June 27 night during the procession of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra, after a video surfaced showing slippers being hurled at the Shahi Masjid at Chhatri Chowk.
The incident, which occurred during the Khati community’s Rath Yatra, sparked outrage and led to a protest outside Kharakuan police station by members of the Muslim community, demanding swift action.
“A case has been registered against unidentified individuals after an object was reportedly thrown at a religious site by anti-social elements late on Friday night. Police are reviewing the CCTV footage from the area in an effort to identify the culprits,” Ujjain Superintendent of Police (SP) Pradeep Sharma’s office wrote on X.
According to reports, two separate Rath Yatras were held in the city — one by ISKCON temple and the other by the Khati community from Jagdish Mandir on Dhaba Road.
The latter was returning through the Gopal Mandir area when, as seen in the viral video, slippers and cow dung cakes were thrown toward the Shahi Masjid.
The video footage, widely circulated on social media platforms, including X and YouTube, shows the slippers being hurled in quick succession as the procession passed by.
The video triggered immediate backlash.
Dozens of people gathered at the Kharakuan police station late Friday night, raising slogans and demanding the arrest of those responsible, police sources said.
Ujjain Qazi Khaliq-ur-Rahman condemned the act, saying that such provocations by external elements tarnish the city’s image and threaten communal harmony.
He urged authorities to take strict action to preserve Ujjain’s religious sanctity.
Based on a complaint by local resident Abrar Ahmed, the Kharak Kuan police lodged an FIR against unidentified individuals under Section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class of citizens by insulting their religion or religious beliefs) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS).
Kharakuan police station in-charge, Rajkumar Malviya, confirmed that CCTV footage from the area is being reviewed to identify the culprits.
He assured that arrests would follow once the individuals are traced.
The Ujjain SP has directed additional patrolling in sensitive zones and appealed to citizens to maintain peace.
The video has drawn sharp reactions online, with users on X calling for accountability and urging restraint.
Police have urged the public not to share inflammatory content and to report any suspicious activity.
Investigations are underway. — With inputs from IANS
