Tension briefly gripped Mazgaon in South Mumbai on Sunday night after unidentified persons allegedly threw eggs at a procession carrying a Ganesh idol to a pandal ahead of Ganeshotsav. One of the eggs allegedly landed on the idol, angering people accompanying the procession and prompting police intervention.
The idol belonged to the Mazgaoncha Morya Ganeshotsav Mandal and was being transported when the alleged incident took place. According to the complaint, the eggs were thrown from an upper floor of the Continental Heights building.
The incident occurred on August 23 as preparations for Ganeshotsav were underway in Mumbai. According to police, members of the procession became upset after an egg allegedly hit the Ganesh idol and briefly gathered outside the building from where the eggs were suspected to have been thrown.
Police register FIR
The Byculla Police registered an FIR against an unidentified person in connection with the incident. The case has been registered under Sections 299 and 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Section 299 deals with deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings, while Section 196 concerns promoting enmity between different groups and acts prejudicial to the maintenance of communal harmony.
Police said the investigation is underway and no arrest had been made at the time of the latest reports. Authorities are also examining available evidence to identify the person allegedly responsible.
Crowd gathers outside building
Following the alleged egg-throwing, people accompanying the procession gathered outside the high-rise for a brief period. Police intervened and dispersed the crowd after speaking with organisers and others at the spot.
Additional police personnel were deployed in the area as a precautionary measure. Senior police officers also reached the spot and appealed for calm as authorities worked to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Reports differed on the size of the crowd that gathered during the tense situation. Some reports said a large number of people came onto the streets, while police intervention eventually brought the situation under control.
CCTV footage being examined
Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the area and nearby buildings as part of efforts to establish how the eggs were allegedly thrown and identify the person responsible. The person or persons who allegedly threw the eggs have not been identified publicly.
The police action comes amid heightened security arrangements in Mumbai as Ganeshotsav approaches, with large processions and public celebrations expected across the city.
What police have said
A Byculla police officer said a complaint had been received alleging that an egg was thrown from the Continental Heights building and that an FIR had subsequently been registered. A senior police officer said the people in the procession were disturbed by the incident but that the crowd was dispersed and the situation brought under control.
The police have not publicly confirmed who threw the eggs or whether the act was deliberate. The investigation is continuing.
Situation under control
The incident has added to security concerns around public religious processions in Mumbai, particularly as the city prepares for large-scale Ganeshotsav celebrations.
For now, the case remains under investigation. No arrest has been reported, and the identity and motive of the person allegedly responsible have yet to be established by police.
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