Tensions briefly flared in Mazgaon of South Mumbai, Maharashtra, on Sunday, August 23, after an unidentified person allegedly threw eggs at a Ganpati idol during a procession ahead of the Ganeshotsav aka Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

The incident happened when the Ganpati idol was being taken to a pandal in the area, prompting the Byculla Police to register an FIR under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to outraging religious feelings and disturbing communal harmony.

According to the complaint filed by Yogesh Ganpat Oramble, an office-bearer of the Mazgaoncha Morya Ganeshotsav Mandal, eggs were thrown at the Ganpati procession from an upper floor of the Continental Heights building.

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One of the eggs allegedly landed on the Ganpati idol.

“We received a complaint that an egg had been thrown from the Continental Heights building and have registered an FIR,” a Byculla police officer said.

The complaint states that around 150 men and 200 women were present in the procession when the incident occurred. Members of the mandal were reportedly disturbed after the egg hit the idol.

The incident also led to a brief gathering outside the building before police intervention.

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“The people in the procession were deeply disturbed by the incident and had gathered near the building for a brief period. We dispersed the crowd after speaking to the office-bearers and others. The situation is now under control,” a senior police officer said.

Police said the complaint alleged that the incident had hurt religious sentiments. An FIR has been registered against an unidentified person, and further investigation is underway.

The Byculla Police has invoked Sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 196 (promoting enmity between different groups and acts prejudicial to maintenance of communal harmony) of the BNS.