Tension In Muradabad As Local Meat Sellers Throw Pieces Of Meat In Air

The Mughulpura area of Moradabad district witnessed communal tensions when local meat sellers threw pieces of meat in the air, which allegedly landed on some passersby and also scattered on the road.

According to a report by the Indian Express, a communal clash like situation was prevented by the intervention of government officials and deployment of heavy police force when members of both Hindu and Muslim community assembled at the spot.

At least 90 people have been booked on charges of 'rioting and promoting enmity between groups on ground of religion.', the report said. 

The report also quotes a police officer as saying “The group (meat sellers)  also raised provocative slogans as a mark of protest against government’s crack down against illegal slaughterhouses and meat shops,”

After coming to power, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered closure of illegal slaughterhouses and strict enforcement of the ban on cow smuggling to fulfil a key electoral promise. 

BJP Chief Amit Shah had in his election meetings emphasised that the moment his party comes to power in the state, it would ban all slaughter houses.

The crackdown on slaughterhouses however impacted many, from numerous meat shops including  the legendary Tunday Kebabi of Lucknow that was forced to serve the unpopular chicken kebabs to the carnivores in UP zoos who were forced to switch over to mutton and chicken which is not going down well with the big cats and is also burdening the exchequer.

Clarifying that the closure is only limited to 'illegal' slaughterhouses, Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh had said "The NGT had in 2015 observed that illegal slaughter houses are a concern for the environment, while insisting on their closure. However, the previous government did not do anything to ensure the closure of these illegal abattoirs."