Ujjain violence: 20+ held, police hunt AI video creators

More than 20 people have been arrested in connection with the violence in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain, officials said on Tuesday, as authorities continued their search for five social media content creators accused of circulating AI-generated videos that allegedly incited a crowd to march on the Shahi Masjid.

The clashes broke out on Monday morning when a group of locals attempted to march to the mosque to halt demolition work. The removal of a three-foot portion of the structure was being carried out by members of the mosque committee under an agreement reached with the local administration the previous night, as part of a road widening project linked to preparations for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2028.

Members of the Muslim community continued removing the necessary portions on Tuesday amid tight police security, officials said.

Ujjain Additional Superintendent of Police Alok Sharma said multiple teams were working to identify and arrest more suspects. "Teams are working to trace some of the accused who are absconding, including the content creators who shared provocative content. We are also closely monitoring social media for any such content that can instigate people," he said.

Police have registered eight cases in connection with the violence, including five First Information Reports against the content creators. The videos, which were taken down from social media platforms soon after the clashes, are said to have spread a rumour that the entire mosque structure was being demolished with bulldozers and excavators. Some of the clips urged people to gather at the mosque, a senior police officer said.

Several road widening projects are underway in the holy city as part of preparations for the Simhastha and the Ujjain Master Plan 2035. Residential and commercial properties, along with religious structures including temples, have been removed, and more structures near the Kshipra river and the Mahakaleshwar temple have been marked for removal.