Police in Kalyan banned animal sacrifice within the premises of several housing societies on Thursday (May 28, 2026), a move that drew displeasure from Muslim residents.Separately, authorities detained a BJP corporator following protests by Shiv Sena factions over temple entry restrictions at the historic Durgadi Fort during Bakri Eid prayers. In Pandharpur, the Muslim community decided to defer goat sacrifice by a few days to avoid coinciding with Ekadashi. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut criticised what he called attempts to create communal tension.In Kalyan’s Patripool area, police issued instructions against sacrificing goats in society premises or inside homes. Security personnel were deployed at the entrances of Sarvodaya Shristi, Raheja and some other societies. Access was limited to residents only.Muslim residents, who said they had performed the sacrifice in the same premises for years without incident, expressed displeasure. One resident said the goats were purchased from farmers and the meat distributed to the poor, adding that the sacrifice must be completed within a three-day period. Another resident said they returned from prayers to find police barricades and cages in the society premises, and that the police presence made them feel as if they had committed an offence.The police stated that the measures were taken because citizens from the Hindu community in many Mumbai-area societies had opposed animal sacrifice by Muslim residents in shared premises and houses, and authorities wanted to prevent any deterioration of the social atmosphere.In a related development in Kalyan, police detained BJP corporator Mahesh Patil on Thursday (May 28, 2026) after members of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Shiv Sena protested against restrictions on entry to a temple inside the Durgadi Fort complex during Bakri Eid prayers. Barricades were placed on three roads leading to the fort, and a large police force was deployed in the Lal Chowki area. The fort complex houses a temple and a mosque in close proximity.According to police, the temple remained closed for about 30 minutes during the Bakri Eid prayers on Thursday morning (May 28, 2026). Workers from both Sena factions opposed the restrictions and demanded entry to the temple during the prayer period.Members of the UBT Sena, led by Vijay Salvi, held a demonstration and performed a maha aarti and bell-ringing protest. After the prayers ended, some members of the Muslim community raised slogans, while groups from Hindu organisations recited the Hanuman Chalisa near the area. Mahesh Patil had warned the administration against allowing namaz on roads and restricting Hindu devotees’ entry to the temple, saying BJP workers would recite the Hanuman Chalisa and Durga Stotra if entry was blocked.The Durgadi Fort issue has remained politically sensitive in Kalyan for decades and is linked to late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe, the political mentor of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In 1986, Dighe had launched a ‘Ghantanaad’ agitation against alleged restrictions on Hindu devotees during Eid prayers at the fort. Published - May 29, 2026 04:37 am IST