Won’t force owners to shut meat shops, say Gurugram Hindu groups

GURUGRAM: Hours after six of their members were arrested and district administration warned of stern action, an umbrella body of 22 right-wing Hindu groups said on Thursday that they would not force any meat shop to be shut in the city.

The six were later released on bail by a city court.

“To people going and closing shops (meat) in markets, I will make it clear -- it is 100% illegal. If anyone is found doing it, even if they are requesting the shop owners to close, strict action will be taken against them,” deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh told media on Thursday evening.

The Sanyukt Hindu Sangharsh Samiti (SHSS) Gurugram, of which the Shiv Sena, the VHP, the Hindu Sena and others are a part, has been threatening meat shop owners to remain closed during Navratri till October 18.

On Wednesday morning, during a protest rally organised by the SHSS, many meat shops along the way were closed forcefully and an FIR was filed for allegedly beating up a worker of a meat shop in Sector 14.

Four workers of SHSS were taken in preventive custody after the rally and they were later released on bail on Wednesday evening.

“But after analysing the footage of the rally, we arrested one more person on Wednesday night and based on his statement, five others were arrested,” said Sumit Kuhar, deputy commissioner of police (crime).