Police have shutdown slaughterhouses and illegal butcher shops across numerous cities in UP, including Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Gonda, Kannauj, Hardoi, Kanpur, Varanasi, Jaunpur and Azamgarh
Within days of UP’s newly-elected chief minister Yogi Adityanath declaring a crackdown on slaughterhouses, three butcher shops were gutted in Hathras town even as the police have swung into action across the state. Arson by cow vigilantes has not been ruled out in the burning down of the Hathras shops.
A front-page news published in the Urdu daily Inquilab has reported that police have shutdown slaughterhouses and illegal butcher shops across numerous cities in UP, including Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Gonda, Kannauj, Hardoi, Kanpur, Varanasi, Jaunpur and Azamgarh. Being targeted are not only slaughter houses and butcher shops selling buffalo meat but even those selling mutton and chicken, according to reports.
Meanwhile a news portal reports that illegal slaughter houses and meat shops were sealed by the police in Lucknow, the state capital.
Here below is an English translation of the Inquilab report:
No sooner has Yogi Adityanath taken charge of UP after a thumping BJP victory in the Assembly polls, that he has targeted the food habits of the state’s minorities. In his very first directive as chief minister, he has ordered a clampdown on illegal slaughter houses across the state. And the police have been swift in enforcing the directive. Reports from different cities indicate that the police crackdown on slaughter houses and butcher shops has created an atmosphere of fear and terror among those engaged in the business, Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
In Ghazipur, one slaughter house and several shops have reportedly been sealed by the administration. The crackdown has continued for the second successive day in Gorakhpur with one slaughter house and many shops being shut down. Locals have complained that even shops selling mutton, chicken and fish are not being spared.
Slaughter of cows and its progeny have been banned in UP but those engaged in the buffalo meat business too are being targeted. The new CM reportedly wants to ban the slaughter of buffaloes as well.
The administration claims that its actions are only against illegal slaughter houses and butcher shops where the licenses have expired.
In Gonda, 12 shops have been shut down in the meat market. Similar action has been taken against one shop in Kannauj, four in Hardoi, three in Kanpur, three shops and one slaughter house in Maunath Bhanjan.
In Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the crackdown has continued for the third successive day. In Jaunpur, 12 shops have been sealed and orders have been issued for the shutdown of slaughter houses in the city’s vicinity. In Azamgarh, too, several shops have been ordered shut.
Following the shutdown of all slaughter houses in Gorakhpur, the Qureshi community demonstrated before the district collector’s office on Wednesday. They threatened to take to the streets unless a solution was found to restore their means of livelihood.
The strict action launched by the administration has generated uncertainty and fear among butchers who trade only in mutton. Meanwhile, taking advantage of the situation, poultry traders have increased the price of chicken.