By Team Clarion

UJJAIN — Fresh demolition action in the Begum Bagh area of Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain has brought uncertainty and fear among local people, many of whom belong to the Muslim community. Five buildings were brought down by authorities on Saturday following a long legal battle.

The operation was carried out by the Ujjain Development Authority (UDA), which moved in with heavy machines soon after court protection was no longer in place. Officials said the buildings were illegal and stood on land owned by the authority.

For residents, however, the day marked another moment of loss. Several families and small business owners said they had been living or working in the area for years and now face an uncertain future.

A shop owner whose property was affected said, “We have spent years building our lives here. In a few hours, everything was gone. We don’t know where to go now.”

According to officials, the land in question had originally been allotted on lease for residential use around three decades ago. Each plot measured about 2,400 square feet and was meant only for housing.

Over time, authorities say, the land use changed. Plots were divided further, and buildings were constructed beyond the original plan. Many of these structures were reportedly used for commercial purposes, which was not permitted under the lease conditions.

An official involved in the action said, “The leases expired around 2014–15 and were not renewed. After that, these constructions became unauthorised. The action has been taken as per legal procedure.”

Residents, however, argue that the situation developed gradually over many years and that many families depended on these properties for their livelihood.

One resident said, “If there were issues, they should have been addressed earlier. People invested their savings here. Now everything is gone without any clear alternative.”

The demolition follows a series of similar actions in the same locality over the past year. Officials said that more than 50 structures had already been removed earlier as part of the same process.

In total, around 90 buildings were identified for action. With the latest operation, a significant number have been demolished, while others may face similar steps in the coming days.

This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.