Mira Road exclusive: Goat vs pig chaos; 200 police deployed in society over illegal slaughter of cattle ahead of Bakrid, here's what FIR says

Ahead of Eid al-Adha, a long-standing disagreement over sacrificial goats being kept inside a residential complex spiraled into communal unrest in Mumbai's Mira Road region on Tuesday, May 27. The situation escalated after several Hindu groups raised their voice against the illegal cattle slaughter in the residential society and organized protests, leading to clashes between members of the two communities and prompting authorities to deploy a significant police presence.

The incident emerged in the Poonam Cluster 1, a housing complex of over 550 flats with a mixed religious population. The Muslim population in the society furthered the construction of a temporary shelter housing for more than 50 goats to be illegally slaughtered within the complex. The Hindu residents and the Hindu organizations took cognizance of the event and protested against the construction. They read the Hanuman Chalisa and stated that the illegal slaughter of cattle would not be tolerated within the society's premises.

The issue of illegal slaughter of cattle in the society premises in Mumbai's Mira Road has been an escalating problem over the years. One of the Islamists, while justifying the illegal slaughter, stated that under the municipal guidelines, local civic bodies hold the authority to grant conditional approval for animal sacrifice within the common areas of housing societies, provided that adequate hygiene and sanitation standards are maintained and no licensed slaughterhouse is located in the immediate vicinity.

 

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“This has been happening in society for quite a few years, with goats being tied and even slaughtered. However, a section of the residents has opposed this for some time, and a similar issue had occurred last time as well. Many residents feel uncomfortable with slaughter taking place and goats being moved around in the society, and the problem escalated on Monday,” he added on condition of anonymity.

On Monday, May 25, Hindu activists took cognizance of the matter and stood by the Hindu residents of the society who opposed the construction of a shed for the illegal slaughter of cattle ahead of Bakrid. According to police, around 10 pm, local Bajrang Dal leader Pawan Thakur and several activists reached the society and asked residents to remove the animals, leading to an argument.

 

Approximately two hours later, Bajrang Dal functionary Nagnath Kamble arrived at the complex, accompanied by his supporters. Shortly after midnight, around 12:50 am on Tuesday, an unidentified individual attempted to stab Kamble from behind. Harsh Singh, a fellow Bajrang Dal member who was present at the scene, stepped in to intervene and sustained injuries to his left hand in the process.

As per the exclusive information obtained by Newsbharati, the individual who attacked Kamble allegedly belonged to a specific community. However, the FIR has been registered against an unknown individual wearing a white full-sleeved kurta and blue jeans. Several photos and videos of the attack have been obtained, in which the brutality of the incident can be measured.

 

In his formal complaint, Singh stated that he and those around him attempted to apprehend the attacker, but the man managed to assault him before escaping the scene. Singh was subsequently taken to a hospital to receive medical attention. The Kashimira police have filed an FIR against the unidentified assailant under the applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 115(2), 118(1).

In the wake of the incident, authorities mobilized over 200 police personnel and deployed them around the residential complex and its surrounding areas as a precautionary measure to contain any further deterioration of the situation. Protests flared up again on Tuesday, May 26, in the afternoon when more than 100 Bajrang Dal members assembled outside the housing society and again began reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, issuing demands that the animals be removed from the premises. Police confirmed that minor altercations broke out between the two groups before officers stepped in to intervene and disperse the gathered crowd.

 

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The tension reached a new peak around 2:30 pm when Bajrang Dal activists allegedly brought a pig to the site, asserting that if Muslim residents were permitted to keep goats within the complex, they would similarly bring pigs onto the premises. Police swiftly prevented the animal from being brought inside and moved quickly to defuse the situation. With tensions continuing to mount, the local administration stepped in to broker a resolution. Residents were informed that the goats would be relocated from the society premises to a designated area arranged by the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation. The animals were subsequently moved out, bringing some degree of calm to the situation.

“Several families had brought goats into the society for qurbani ahead of Eid, following which objections were raised by some residents. The administration held meetings with both sides and, with consensus, an alternative space provided by the municipal corporation was identified. The goats have now been shifted there,” said DCP Rahul Chavan. Senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya also visited Mira Road along with supporters during the protest. “Goats are deliberately being brought into Hindu-majority localities to create an atmosphere of fear among vegetarian and Jain families. If anyone uses a religious occasion to spread hatred, it will not be tolerated,” Somaiya alleged.

 

Local Congress leaders, meanwhile, alleged that the BJP and its affiliates were trying to create communal trouble. A Congress corporator from Ward No. 22, Zuber Inamdar, said, “Residents have been bringing goats into the building every year, and this is not the first time. However, slaughter has never taken place within the premises. This time, a few society members objected even to bringing the goats into the society. A shed had also been erected, but following a complaint, municipal officials removed it. The issues were later sorted out, but a few members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal created and escalated the controversy.”

Meanwhile, police said one person has been detained in connection with the attack on the Bajrang Dal activist that took place on Monday night. Several others have been detained for the scuffle that broke out on Tuesday afternoon. No arrests have been made so far. “We have detained one person in connection with the attack on Harsh Singh. After inquiry, he will be formally arrested in the case,” a police officer said.

Why do Muslims slaughter animals on Eid al-Adha?

Muslims every year slaughter livestock during the festival of Eid and believe that the tradition was first initiated by the Prophet Muhammad himself. They kill the animal by the Halal method and then distribute the meat amongst their family members and others.

As per the reports, in reverence of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismaeel, as an act of obedience to God’s order, God intervened and provided an animal as a substitute sacrifice, leading to the celebration of Eid al-Adha. Muslims commemorate this day every year, honoring Allah via the sacrifice of an animal. It is a three-day event and comprises goat and sheep sacrifices as well as namaz.

Similar incidents reported last year

Mira Road and the Bhayander area in Maharashtra’s Mumbai district have been in the news for all the wrong reasons in the recent past.

In June 2024, a similar incident was reported last year from the Mira Road region of Mumbai. Ruckus erupted after some of the Muslim families residing in JP North Celeste society and Hill Galaxy got goats for slaughter within the society's premises. The Hindus were also threatened, and women were abused as they strongly protested against animal slaughter inside society's premises.

 

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In June 2023, a massive controversy erupted in the capital city of Maharashtra after one of the Muslim families living in a society on Mira Road, Mumbai, brought two goats a day ahead of Bakrid (Bakra-eid, Eid-Ul-Adha). The society members refused the Muslim family to get the goats inside the society premises for slaughter and said that they wouldn’t allow any kind of slaughtering activity within the society premises.

 

The residents of the society on Mira Road protested and opposed the slaughtering of the goats within the society's premises on Bakrid and also chanted Hanuman Chalisa. Some of the people also raised the slogans of ‘Jai Shree Ram’, the videos of which had gone viral in the media.

The Police also allowed the goats, saying that there was no such rule or law against a man getting goats or animals into his house. However, the authorities said that the concerned family would face arrest if they slaughtered animals in their apartment or on the society's premises.

In the given case, a complaint has been filed, and all the goats brought for illegal slaughter have been removed from the society.