Bakrid Sparks Mira Road Chaos: Pig At Protest Site, Knife Attack, Police Move In — All In One Night

Last Updated:May 27, 2026, 3:26 pm IST

A dispute over sacrificial goats inside a Mumbai housing society spiralled into protests before the controversy took an even stranger turn with a pig being brought to the site

The situation turned more provocative on Tuesday afternoon when Bajrang Dal activists allegedly brought a pig near the society premises (X/@HateDetectors)

What began as a dispute over sacrificial goats inside a Mumbai housing society spiralled into communal tension, street protests and heavy police deployment on Tuesday, before the controversy took an even stranger turn when activists allegedly arrived with a pig in protest.

The unrest unfolded at Poonam Cluster 1 in Mira Road, where objections were raised over a temporary shed housing more than 50 goats brought in ahead of Eid al-Adha celebrations.

Residents familiar with the matter said Muslim families in the society had been bringing sacrificial animals into the complex for several years. Earlier municipal rules had reportedly permitted temporary approvals for sacrifice-related arrangements in common areas, provided sanitation and hygiene guidelines were followed.

A resident of the society said the practice of bringing goats into the complex and housing them in temporary sheds had existed for years, though some residents had objected to it periodically. According to the resident, a similar disagreement had occurred previously, but tensions escalated significantly this time after objections intensified on Monday night.

Bajrang Dal Activists Enter Society, Knife Attack Reported

The situation reportedly worsened around 10 pm on Monday when local Bajrang Dal leader Pawan Thakur and several activists reportedly entered the housing society and demanded that the goats be removed. An argument reportedly followed between activists and residents. Around two hours later, another Bajrang Dal functionary, Nagnath Kamble, arrived at the society along with supporters. Shortly before 1 am, an unidentified person allegedly attempted to attack Kamble with a knife from behind.

During the incident, Bajrang Dal activist Harsh Singh intervened and sustained injuries to his left hand while trying to stop the attacker. Singh was later admitted to hospital. Based on his complaint, Kashimira Police registered an FIR against an unidentified individual under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Following the violence, police deployed more than 200 personnel in and around the housing complex to prevent further escalation, as reported by Money Control. However, tensions resurfaced on Tuesday afternoon when over 100 Bajrang Dal supporters gathered outside the society and began reciting the Hanuman Chalisa while demanding the removal of the goats from the premises.

Minor scuffles reportedly broke out between members of both communities before police intervened and dispersed the crowd.

Situation Escalates After Pig Brought To Protest Site

The situation turned more provocative later in the afternoon when Bajrang Dal activists allegedly brought a pig near the society premises. According to reports, activists claimed that if goats could be brought into the housing society, they too would bring pigs into the area.

Police personnel immediately intervened, prevented the animal from entering the premises and managed to bring the situation under control before tensions escalated further.

Administration Identifies Alternative Location For Animals

Amid mounting tension, local authorities initiated discussions with representatives from both sides.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Rahul Chavan said meetings were held with residents and community representatives, following which a consensus was reached to shift the goats to an alternative location identified by the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation.

The animals were later moved out of the housing society to the designated space.

BJP Leaders Demand Stricter Rules On Animal Sacrifice

According to a report in The Times Of IndiaSenior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya visited Mira Road during the protests and demanded that animal sacrifice be prohibited within residential housing society premises. Kirit Somaiya said only officially designated areas should be used for such purposes and stated that it was the responsibility of the municipal corporation to enforce the rules. He also referred to a previous incident in Mira Road last month in which two security guards were allegedly stabbed after religious profiling by an accused identified as Zaib Ansari.

Local BJP MLA Narendra Mehta said all communities should be able to celebrate festivals peacefully without inconveniencing others. He alleged that nearly 40 to 50 goats had been kept “illegally” inside the society over the previous two days, triggering objections from residents. According to Mehta, society members had repeatedly requested authorities to intervene earlier.

Congress Leaders Accuse BJP Affiliates Of Escalating Issue

Local Congress leaders, however, accused BJP-linked organisations of attempting to communalise the issue.

Congress corporator Zuber Inamdar said residents had been bringing goats into the complex every year and clarified that slaughter had never taken place inside the premises.

According to him, the temporary shed had already been removed by municipal officials after complaints were raised, and the matter had largely been resolved before members of organisations such as the VHP and Bajrang Dal allegedly intensified the protests.

Detentions Made, No Formal Arrests Yet

Police said one individual had been detained in connection with the knife attack on Harsh Singh, while several others were detained following the clashes and protests on Tuesday afternoon.

As of Tuesday evening, no formal arrests had been made. Officials said the detained suspect in the knife attack case could be formally arrested after further questioning and investigation.

Read More