Meat Shops Set Ablaze in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh

The CM also ordered a blanket ban on smuggling of cows and said zero tolerance would be exercised in this regard.

The incident comes days after two illegal slaughterhouses were sealed in Uttar Pradesh. (Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Three shops selling meat and fish in Hathras were set ablaze late on 21 March, police said on Wednesday.

The owners, of the shops at Manyawar Kanshiram Colony, said their stock was charred in the fire.

Informed sources said within 24 hours, a makeshift shop situated in Laadpur village was set ablaze late Wednesday evening. The shopkeeper concerned claimed losses, but police said the “illegal” makeshift shop was empty and had nothing inside.

"We cant's comment as to who has done this but there were no losses for the owner... it is a small incident and the cause of the fire is not clear," a police official told IANS.

"Unidentified persons set ablaze three shops selling fish and meat. An FIR has been registered against them," Superintendent of Police Hathras, Dilip Kumar Srivastava said on Wednesday morning.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Hathras Sadar) Rakesh Gupta also met the aggrieved shop owners and heard their grievances.

The incident comes close on the heels of some slaughterhouses being sealed in Uttar Pradesh on the orders of the Yogi Adityanath government.

On 21 March, the Ghaziabad Police sealed 10 meat shops and four slaughterhouses which were allegedly running illegally in the city. District authorities sealed a slaughterhouse that was being illegally run in the Kamalgadaha locality. Officials claimed that the slaughterhouse had been shutdown in 2012 but continued to operate in a clandestine manner.

Crackdown On Cow Slaughter, Cow Smuggling

The BJP had announced in its manifesto that it would take “stern steps to close down all illegal slaughterhouses besides banning mechanised slaughterhouses” if it comes to power. BJP Chief Amit Shah in his election meetings also said the same.

The BJP document had observed that due to cow smuggling, dairy-based industries have failed to flourish.

It noted that during the past state governments there has been a fall in cattle count, reflecting that bovine smuggling was rampant.

In his orders issued today, Adityanath also directed the police to act tough against anti-social elements. He warned that those using police security as “status symbol” would come under the scanner and after review of their threat perception their security might be changed.

Two Imprisoned for Cow Slaughter

On 21 March, a local court convicted two men and sentenced them to five years in jail for slaughtering cows.

According to lawyer Javed Ali, Additional District and Sessions Judge Manoj Kumar also imposed a fine of Rs 15000 each on the accused Gayyur and Gadhe Ali after holding them guilty under the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act.

Police had intercepted a truck and seized beef from it at a check post under Jhunjhala police station in Shamli district in 27 January 2012. A case was registered against both the accused who were arrested in this connection.

(With inputs from PTI)