A disagreement over the construction of a temporary shed and the tying of sacrificial goats for Bakrid resulted in injuries to three persons at a housing society in Mira Road, Thane district. Police intervened and resolved the matter after an eight-hour process.During this time, members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal gathered at the society gate. They recited the Hanuman Chalisa as part of their protest. The protesters objected to the shed and the tying of goats for sacrifice.The police also intercepted some protesters who allegedly attempted to bring a pig to the society premises. The group claimed the animal was for a “Varaha Puja”. The police noted that Varaha Puja is performed on Varaha Jayanti, which falls on SeptemberThe police said the incident occurred around 12:50 a.m. on May 26. A man approached a group of protesters and asked for a local VHP leader. When the protesters questioned his identity, the man produced a knife and attempted to attack them. In the scuffle, he injured several persons with a blade. The injured are associated with the VHP.An FIR was registered based on a complaint from Harsh Singh, who was also injured. The accused was apprehended.Senior police inspector More and the Divisional Commissioner of Police reached the spot. The police said the situation was under control after mediation between the groups.Political reactions followed. Sanjay Upadhyay, BJP MLA from Borivali, said if minority communities do not follow the Constitution and follow Sharia, “we will answer goats with pigs”. Pratap Sarnaik, Shiv Sena minister and local MLA, appealed for restraint and blamed outsiders for instigation. Abu Azmi of the Samajwadi Party said no illegal qurbani should be allowed and urged authorities to ensure sacrifices are carried out in enclosed spaces as per guidelines.Waris Pathan of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) termed the incident “deeply distressing and shameful”, adding that it had allegedly “completely torn apart the fabric of Hindu-Muslim relations.”Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde and other BJP leaders have asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to issue a circular imposing a ban on goat sacrifice in housing societies and chawls during Bakrid. BMC officials said strict guidelines are already in place.The Maharashtra government has directed police to invoke provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against cattle smugglers and illegal slaughterhouses ahead of Bakrid. Published - May 28, 2026 12:35 pm IST