50 Goats, Two Communities, One Mira Road Housing Society — And Mumbai On The Brink

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:19]A simmering dispute over goats brought into a residential complex for Eid al-Adha sacrifice escalated into communal tension at Mumbai's Mira Road on Tuesday, prompting heavy police deployment after right-wing activists staged protests outside the housing society and clashes broke out between members of the two communities. Tension flared at the residential complex in Mira Road ahead of Eid al-Adha, popularly known as Bakri Eid after a dispute broke out over more than 50 goats being housed within the society premises, prompting heavy police deployment and detention of several persons. The unrest began at Poonam Cluster 1 on Monday night after residents and right-wing activists objected to the construction of a temporary shed for sacrificial goats inside the housing complex. The society that consists of over 550 flats is a mixed population locality with several Muslim families residing there. Locals said that over the last few years Muslim families had been bringing sacrificial animals, especially goats, which are tied in sheds and later sacrificed during Eid.

[00:01:24]As per earlier rules, municipal corporations have the authority to grant temporary permission for sacrifice in society common areas if certain conditions are met, including hygiene, sanitation, and the absence of nearby licensed slaughter facilities. The issue escalated on Monday night when a section of residents called Bajrang Dal activists into the society complex to intervene into the matter. According to police, around 10:00 p.m. local Bajrang Dal leader Pawan Thakur and several activists reached the society and asked residents to remove the animals, leading to an argument. Following the incident, police deployed more than 200 personnel around the residential complex and nearby areas to prevent any escalation.

[00:02:05]However, tensions surfaced on Tuesday afternoon when over 100 members of Bajrang Dal gathered outside the society and began reciting Hanuman Chalisa demanding that the animals be moved out.

[00:02:15]This led to further scuffles between Muslim residents and Bajrang Dal activists. Police said minor clashes broke out between members of the two communities before officers intervened and dispersed the crowd. Amidst rising tensions, the local administration intervened in the matter with residents being informed that the goats would be shifted out of the premises to a designated spot made available by the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation.

[00:02:39]The goats were later moved out.

[00:02:42]Poonam Plaza society objection raised here objection raised Mahanagar Palika consensus Mahanagar Palika society Mahanagar Palika