‘New Delhi: In May 2026, communal tensions arose at Poonam Cluster 1, a large residential complex in Mira Road under the jurisdiction of the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) in Mumbai, over the temporary keeping of goats on the premises ahead of Eid al-Adha.Videos of a policeman running with a pig in his arms while a crowd ran behind him, trying to take back the animal, were seen.What began as a dispute concerning a temporary goat enclosure escalated between approximately May 22 and 26, involving objections from residents, municipal and police intervention, mobilisation of persons from outside the society, violence, involvement of religious and political organisations, and extensive circulation of competing narratives through social and conventional media. During a fact-finding exercise undertaken by the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) between May 30 and July 12, 2026, it was gleaned that the episode significantly damaged relations within a residential community that residents from different faiths had described as historically cosmopolitan.‘History of collective religious celebrations’CSSS’s fact-finding team included Irfan Engineer, director of CSSS, Sameer Wagle, member of the civil society initiative Mumbai for Peace, Rukmini Iyer, peace-builder, and Sudhakar Suradkar, retired IPS officer. The process included visits to Poonam Cluster, interviews with residents, managing committee representatives, political and community representatives and a person who reported being assaulted, an interview with Nagnath Kamble, associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, engagement with senior municipal and police authorities, and observation of police-convened meetings with Muslim residents on July 5 and Hindu residents on July 12.Historically, Poonam Cluster has a history of collective religious celebrations including Holi, Ganapati, Eid and Muharram. Muslim residents stated that goats had been temporarily kept within the society before Bakri Eid for approximately eight to ten years. They consistently maintained that qurbani, or ritual slaughter, had never taken place within the residential complex and was not intended there in 2026.There had nevertheless been objections to the goat enclosure for several years. Hemendra Joshi, a Hindu resident who identified himself as a complainant, stated that he had raised objections from 2019 onwards, principally concerning smell and the use of common space. The 2026 conflict therefore involved a longstanding practice that was also subject to longstanding objections.A police intimation or application was reportedly made around May 13-15, and police confirmed that permission had been given on time. Preparation of the temporary enclosure reportedly began around May 16. Residents stated that an application submitted to MBMC was acknowledged but neither approved nor rejected.On May 24, MBMC officials removed the asbestos roof of the temporary enclosure, reportedly on fire-safety grounds. The bamboo supports were subsequently removed. The authorities ultimately directed that the goats themselves be removed. Approximately 48 goats were transported on May 26 to a ground near NH School in Naya Nagar, with residents cooperating in their removal.Also read: Hindutva Groups Arrive With a Pig at Mira Road Society Where Goats Were Kept for Eid: Behind the Viral VideoResidents, however, maintained that they had followed what was roughly the same practice for years and were willing to comply with applicable rules, though they had not been informed of changed or newly enforced requirements despite approaching the authorities. Creation of a conflict Evidence gathered by CSSS indicates that genuine practical grievances existed concerning smell, hygiene, use of common space, visitors and society decision-making. These grievances were embedded within a longer deterioration of relations involving disputes over Taraweeh prayers, namaz, loudspeakers, religious lighting and banners, visitors attending religious events, festival committees and the use of common areas.CSSS states that the conflict snowballed into a clash when the VHP and Bajrang Dal became involved. Nagnath Kamble of the Dal, stated that Poonam Cluster residents had approached the VHP for assistance and estimated that the crowd during the disturbances eventually reached 400-500 persons, including organisational members and other citizens. Physical violence occurred during the disturbances. Rahim, a local, reported being assaulted by a group after stopping near Poonam Cluster to enquire about the gathering. Police personnel reportedly extracted him from the crowd. Other assaults were also alleged. The report which interviewed locals, has it that the appearance of a pig during an already communally-charged confrontation became a particularly provocative feature of the episode. CSSS’s understanding is that political intervention and social media further amplified the controversy. Public narratives increasingly framed the dispute in terms of animal sacrifice within a residential society. FindingsCSSS finds that the immediate controversy concerned the temporary keeping of goats rather than sacrifice within Poonam Cluster. Public conflation of these distinct activities contributed to escalation. The practice of temporarily keeping goats was longstanding, but objections to it also dated back at least to 2019. Hindu residents of the area still held on the same objections concerning smell, hygiene, visitors, common space and internal decision-making.CSSS states that involvement of outside religious, political and vigilante actors materially transformed an internal residential dispute into a wider communal confrontation. Whatever the merits of residents’ grievances, outside organisations should neither exercise an extra-legal veto over residents’ religious practices nor substitute themselves for lawful authorities and internal dispute-resolution mechanisms.The fact-finding team also noted that residents from both communities expressed a desire for peaceful coexistence, clearer rules and dialogue. The police-convened engagement following the incident represents a constructive beginning, although dialogue cannot substitute for transparent administration, impartial investigation and consistent enforcement of law.The report states, “The Poonam Cluster incident was neither simply a dispute about goats nor an inexplicable outbreak of communal hostility. It arose through the interaction of longstanding religious practice, genuine local grievances, unclear regulation, weak internal dispute resolution, municipal action, outside mobilisation, political intervention, violence and social-media amplification”.Among its recommendations, CSSS has urged MBMC and the police to issue multilingual festival guidelines, establish a single-window permission system, ensure impartial enforcement of laws, prevent interference by vigilante groups, strengthen local peace committees and improve civic infrastructure for animal markets and slaughter facilities.