Ujjain Muharram Procession Turns Violent: Crowd Breaks Barricades; Police Resort to Lathi Charge
UJJAIN, Madhya Pradesh, July 7, 2025: A Muharram procession in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday, July 6, turned into chaos after participants allegedly broke through police barricades to attempt to divert from their pre-approved route. The raucous crowd thus required a police lathi charge, resulting in injuries to at least five police personnel and the filing of a complaint against the organizer and 15 others.
Breach of Approved Route Violation
It happened just after the entry of Khajurwadi Masjid in Ujjain’s Begumbagh, when the usual horse procession for the ninth Muharram would happen. According to Ujjain Superintendent of Police (SP) Pradeep Sharma, very carefully, the route for the procession had been finalized and mutually agreed upon after several meetings with community heads over the previous ten days. Despite these agreements, organizer Irfan Khan, alias Lalla, and company totally put forward and allegedly tried to move the Abdalpura-Geeta Colony procession towards a place specifically prohibited.
Barricade Breach and Response to the Police
The processionists broke the erected barricade, which was said to be the most chaotic event. In one, a horse meant for the procession rammed into the barricades and injured some police personnel. The police then mildly lathi-charged the crowd to disperse the mob and restore order by confronting the situation with rising tension and considering the path designated for the procession when the cops were utterly unsuccessful in controlling the crowd. Many of them escaped with the tazia (a replica of the mausoleum of Imam Hussain) and left behind their symbolic horse.
Injured Officers and Legal Proceedings
The injured policemen include Assistant Sub Inspector Khuman Singh Kelwa, Head Constables Mukesh Munia, Anil Sisodia, and Chandrapal, and Constable Shyam Singh, to whom first aid was rendered at the district hospital. Following the incident in the aftermath of rioting, unlawful assembly, and obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty, 16 people, including the organizer Irfan Khan, have been cited under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Images of the other individuals involved are being analyzed in CCTV footage from the area, according to the police.
Community Leaders Condemn Deviations
Joint Secretary of the Seerat Committee (an organization that looks after religious events in Muslim areas), Maqsood Ali has said that it was the fault of the organizers. The police were very clear from earlier meetings regarding the route, and there was even a signed bond. He also condemned the act of violating the decided path and called for action against those responsible. The condemnation on the local level shows up the already existing understanding regarding the protocols in processing.
Security Measures and Review Going Forward
To top it off, the Ujjain police placed over 650 personnel and used drone cameras to watch out for the procession, putting everything in place for its safe passage. According to SP Pradeep Sharma, the attempt to change the route could have disturbed order in law and authority. Now, a thorough analysis within the police of the Ujjain region is being realized in order to learn lessons about the event and prevent it from happening in the future.
