A controversy has erupted in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district after a video surfaced showing a group of men using a large tree trunk to forcefully hit the gate of a mosque during a traditional festival procession. The incident, which took place on March 12 during the annual Shimga procession — a festival celebrated in the Konkan region during Holi — quickly spiraled into a political flashpoint, drawing widespread condemnation, online debates, and calls for legal action. A case has been registered on charges of sloganeering and unlawful assembly, but the situation remains tense as different narratives emerge from political leaders, community representatives, and law enforcement.
The procession, stretching over two kilometers, is an annual event that concludes at the Dopeshwar temple. As part of the customary ritual, participants carry a long tree trunk, which is traditionally laid on the steps of the mosque during the route. However, this year’s event turned controversial when a section of the crowd reportedly tried to ram the gate of the mosque with the trunk, resulting in an uproar.
Police officials, while confirming the incident, were quick to clarify that no forceful entry occurred. They stated that law enforcement personnel acted swiftly to prevent the situation from escalating further. Ratnagiri Superintendent of Police Dhananjay Kulkarni explained that touching the mosque’s gate with the trunk was part of the traditional practice and insisted that the event was being misrepresented. He acknowledged that some youths raised provocative slogans, prompting the registration of a case, but denied claims of a deliberate attack on the mosque.
The incident triggered a flurry of political reactions. Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra MLA Nilesh Rane released a video statement alleging that the controversy was overblown. According to Rane, tensions escalated this year because the mosque’s gate, which is typically open during the procession, was shut. He claimed this deviation from tradition fueled misunderstandings. Rane insisted that reports of a communal clash were exaggerated, asserting that slogans were raised from both sides and accusing certain political figures and media outlets of sensationalizing the situation for personal and political gains. He maintained that the region remained peaceful and under control.
In contrast, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the incident, calling it “shameful” and demanding accountability from Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Sharing a video of the event, Owaisi questioned whether the state government would ensure that the law takes its course. He criticized the police for not preventing the provocation, pointing out that the mosque was targeted while Taraweeh prayers were ongoing.
Maharashtra-based lawyer and activist Advocate Owais Pechkar echoed Owaisi’s sentiments, writing to the Superintendent of Police in Ratnagiri to demand immediate arrests of those responsible. Pechkar argued that the act of trying to break the mosque’s gate during a prayer session amounted to disturbing communal peace and violating multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code. He called for charges including rioting, provocation with intent to cause a riot, promoting enmity between different religious groups, defiling a place of worship, and outraging religious feelings. Pechkar emphasized that such incidents, if unchecked, could severely damage the region’s long-standing interfaith harmony.
Following the outcry, Maharashtra Police registered an FIR under Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act for unlawful assembly against unidentified individuals. Officials clarified that the investigation is ongoing and warned against misleading social media content that could inflame the situation further. Police reassured the public that the region remains calm, with no law-and-order disruptions reported since the incident.
The controversy has exposed a deeper divide, with some defending the act as part of a longstanding cultural tradition, while others argue it crossed a line into provocation and disrespect. The incident has now become a flashpoint for broader discussions on religious sensitivity, communal coexistence, and the role of political leaders in maintaining peace. With investigations ongoing and public opinion deeply polarized, the Ratnagiri incident remains a sensitive and evolving story.
