In the Begumbagh area of Ujjain city, Madhya Pradesh, the Ujjain Development Authority (UDA) utilized JCB machinery to demolish two houses due to lease violations. Following the lifting of a court stay, a team from the authority, accompanied by police forces and the city corporation, proceeded with the action. Despite being a predominantly Muslim area, local protests were managed by authorities who engaged in discussions with senior citizens to ease tensions and effectively carried out the demolition.
On Friday morning, the presence of police and JCB machinery in Begumbagh caused alarm among residents, soon drawing a crowd. The authority had marked houses numbered 49 and 55 for demolition due to their usage in violation of lease terms. The premises were vacated before demolition started.
Despite the protests, officials conversed with senior members of the Muslim community, which helped calm the locals. Subsequently, the corporation's removal team proceeded to demolish the luxurious houses. This area is near the revered Mahakal Temple.
According to Sandeep Soni, the CEO of Ujjain Development Authority, the Begumbagh area was initially developed under a residential plan by the authority some years ago. However, several plots and houses were being used for commercial purposes. Some individuals had violated rules by selling properties or starting illegal hotels.
In September 2024, the authority declared these constructions illegal based on lease violations, revoking their leases. Action was taken against houses numbered 49 and 55 following the removal of a court stay.
According to the CEO, a total of 28 properties in the area have had their leases revoked, but further action has been stalled due to pending court cases. During the operation, CEO Sandeep Soni, SDM L.N. Garg, and Additional SP Nitesh Bhargav were present at the site. A force of 150 police personnel was deployed to manage any potential unrest.
