Mumbai: The controversy surrounding Bakri Eid preparations in Mira Road intensified on Wednesday after BJP corporator Priti Satam strongly opposed the alleged use of public and common residential spaces for goat sacrifice rituals, warning of street protests if authorities fail to act.

Speaking amid rising tensions in the area, Satam said ritual sacrifice of goats cannot legally be conducted in open public spaces or common areas inside housing societies and urged civic authorities and police to strictly enforce existing rules.

“They are openly carrying out the ritual sacrifice of goats; we are opposing this because such sacrifices cannot legally be performed in public spaces. There is a circular issued by the BMC. We successfully had this practice cancelled last year as well,” Satam said. She further warned that protests would intensify if authorities did not intervene.

“The police administration and the BMC authorities present here must exercise prudence in their decision-making. These rituals should be conducted only at the specific sites officially allotted for them, not in the open common areas of residential societies. They must strictly adhere to the established rules and regulations. If no action is taken, then all of us will take to the streets,” she added.

The row erupted after a temporary shed was erected inside the upscale Poonam Cluster residential complex in Mira Road for Bakri Eid-related Qurbani preparations. Following objections raised by Hindu residents and local organisations, municipal authorities demolished the structure.

However, tensions escalated after attempts were reportedly made to reconstruct the shed, triggering fresh protests and heated confrontations between groups from both communities. The situation turned violent late at night when a youth was allegedly attacked with a knife during the unrest.

The dispute soon spilled onto nearby roads, leading to scuffles and chaos in the area. Police were forced to intervene and carried out a lathi charge at several locations to disperse crowds and prevent further escalation.

Tensions worsened further after activists allegedly linked to Sakal Hindu Samaj and Bajrang Dal brought a pig near the Bakra Mandi protest site, triggering outrage and raising fears of communal flare-ups.

A heavy police deployment continues in Mira Road, with officials closely monitoring the situation to prevent any further deterioration of law and order ahead of Bakri Eid celebrations.

Mumbai, May 26: A legal representation has been filed before the Mayor of Mumbai, objecting to a proposed blanket ban on Bakri Eid Qurbani within housing societies, chawls and residential complexes across the city.

The legal notice, issued by advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh, challenges a civic communication dated 24 May 2026, arguing that a sweeping, indiscriminate prohibition on a recognised religious practice stands as arbitrary, disproportionate and legally vulnerable under Articles 14, 21 and 25 of the Constitution of India, which guarantee equality, the right to life and freedom of religion.

According to the notice, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) already possesses a robust, regulated framework for managing Bakri Eid permissions. This existing structure operates via designated locations, ward-level supervision and online permission channels, including the MyBMC portal.

Historically, regulated Qurbani arrangements have been permitted within approved premises and specific common areas of housing societies, provided they comply with sanitation norms, municipal licensing and No Objection Certificates (NOCs).

Shaikh contended that replacing an established, structured permission mechanism with a total ban—without any proportionality analysis or public consultation—violates basic constitutional tenets of fairness and non-discrimination.

The notice highlights that the Bombay High Court has consistently favoured strict regulation, hygiene and supervision over outright, indiscriminate bans.

Furthermore, the legal notice draws attention to the “Mumbai Qurbani Permission White Paper” submitted by Adv. Shaikh on 21 May 2026. The paper outlines comprehensive policy proposals, including uniform year-round regulatory guidelines, single-window permissions, strict veterinary and sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and a transparent grievance redressal mechanism.

The representation has urged the civic administration to reconsider the restriction and instead engage in consultation regarding the White Paper. Served as a preventive legal objection, the notice said that if no corrective action is taken, appropriate legal proceedings will be initiated before the Bombay High Court to quash the proposed ban.

A fresh political controversy erupted in Mira Road after BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay made strong remarks while commenting on the ongoing dispute surrounding goats being brought into housing societies ahead of Bakra Eid.

The statement comes amid heightened communal tension in the locality, where clashes broke out earlier today over a temporary shed built for housing goats meant for Qurbani at Poonam Cluster Society.

Speaking to the media, Sanjay Upadhyay said the issue was not limited to Mira Road alone. Referring to another incident in Borivali, he claimed that a single family in Sumer Nagar society had brought six goats into the premises despite opposition from other residents.

The BJP MLA stated that the Maharashtra government has already issued clear guidelines prohibiting animal slaughter in housing societies and open public spaces. He added that all concerned departments had been informed about the rules.

Questioning those allegedly violating the guidelines, Upadhyay remarked that if goats could be brought into societies despite objections, then there should not be resistance if pigs were brought to such locations. He further said that if conflicts arise, “eet ka badla patthar se,”bakra la jawab suvar se” (brick should be answered with a stone, the goat will have to be answered with a pig).

The controversy began after municipal authorities demolished a temporary goat shed erected inside Poonam Cluster Society following complaints from Hindu residents and local organisations.

Later, tensions escalated when activists allegedly associated with Sakal Hindu Samaj and Bajrang Dal brought a pig near the Bakra Mandi protest site. Viral videos from the area showed protesters questioning why goats were being allowed into housing societies while objections were being raised against their protest.

The move led to heated arguments between members of two communities, prompting police intervention. Scuffles were reported from several spots, following which police carried out a lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

A heavy police presence remains in Mira Road as authorities continue monitoring the situation. Officials have appealed to residents to maintain peace and avoid circulating provocative messages or videos on social media.

Police are also examining footage from the incident and are expected to take action based on the findings of the investigation.