Bakrid tensions flare near Mumbai as goats removed from Mira Road housing society amid protests

MIRA BHAYANDER: Tensions flared in Mira Road on Monday and Tuesday after members of the Poonam Cluster housing society objected to goats being kept in the society’s premises ahead of Bakri Eid, which falls on May 28. Videos of arguments went viral on Monday evening, and according to reports, one person was injured during the argument.

On Tuesday afternoon, around 40-50 goats were taken away by the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) from the society’s premises in three pickup trucks. They were taken to a site allocated by the civic body.

The Mira-Bhayander-Vasai-Virar police were present in significant numbers on Tuesday to make sure that law and order was maintained and no untoward incident took place. Locals were of the opinion that the sacrifice should be made at sites allocated by the authorities and not on the society’s premises. A group later read the hanuman chalisa in front of the society premises.

Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirit Somaiya visited Mira Road and said that sacrifices on society premises should be banned and only dedicated spaces should be used for the purpose. He said it is the responsibility of the local municipal corporation to make sure that dedicated sites are used. Somaiya also spoke about last month’s incident in Mira Road, where two security guards were stabbed after religious profiling was allegedly carried out by the accused, Zaib Ansari.

Local BJP MLA Narendra Mehta said that all communities should celebrate their festivals without disturbing others. He also said that in the last two days, around 40-50 goats were kept illegally in the Poonam Cluster society, which was objected to by local residents. The society’s members also requested that the goats be removed, but tensions arose on Monday night, he said. Mehta added that society members were unhappy as the removal of the goats could have been done a couple of days ago.

Shiv Sena minister and MLA from Thane Pratap Sarnaik said, “People of Mira-Bhayander have been staying together for years in peace, and no major issues were seen, apart from some minor incidents here and there.” He claimed “leaders from outside come in and spread disharmony in the area.”