UP shut 150 illegal slaughterhouses in last 4.5 years: Govt

LUCKNOW: The state government shut down 150 illegal slaughterhouses in the four-anda-half years of its tenure, a state government spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The government identified 356 cattle mafias while initiating legal action against 1,823 accused and confiscating assets worth more than R18 crore of 68 smugglers booked under the UP Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson accused the previous government of giving permissions, indiscriminately, to those willing to open slaughterhouses. “However, things changed after Yogi Adityanath took over as the chief minister. The CM issued strict instructions to implement the Supreme Court’s order and the central government’s guidelines,” the spokesperson said. Citing the urban development department, the spokesperson said that 150 slaughterhouses with the capacity to slaughter 300, 400, and 500 animals daily have been closed in different districts for not complying with the prescribed standards.

“At present, only 35 slaughterhouses that adhere to the prescribed standards are operating in the state,” he said.

Citing Police Department’s latest data, the spokesperson said that 319 cow smugglers were arrested in the last 4.5 years while properties of two were attached and 14 people were booked under the National Security Act. Apart from this, 280 accused were charged under Gangsters Act, 114 under Goonda Act whereas cases of 156 history sheeters were opened.

At the same time, for cow protection, more than 83,203 cows were given up for adoption to more than 43,168 people till July this year, and 5,278 permanent cow shelters have been built in the rural and urban areas housing about 5,86,793 cows, the spokesperson added.