Authorities in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, demolished the Takiya Mosque and 257 homes on Saturday as part of the Mahakaleshwar Temple Corridor Project.
The demolition in Nizamuddin Colony was carried out under heavy police presence and supervision by senior officials.
Residents reported receiving as little as 12 hours’ notice, with some claiming they were notified late on Friday evening before the bulldozers arrived early Saturday morning.
The demolition, which began at sunrise, left many residents scrambling to save their belongings.
Women and children were seen in distress, and a teenage girl fainted upon witnessing her home being destroyed.
Authorities stated that Rs 33 crore of the Rs 66 crore compensation had been disbursed to displaced families, yet residents expressed frustration over the abrupt evictions.
The cleared land will be used for parking facilities and a Pravachan Hall in preparation for the 2028 Ujjain Simhastha (Kumbh).
District Collector Neeraj Singh affirmed that land acquisition had been completed and only structures under legal stay orders were spared.
Despite compensation claims, the forceful evictions have drawn criticism, with displaced families lamenting the loss of their homes and religious sites.
Additional District Collector Anukul Jain and Additional SP Nitesh Bhargava oversaw the operation to ensure the project progressed without resistance.