Two slaughterhouses were shut down on Monday which UP government says were illegal.
Highlights
- 3 meat shops set on fire by mob on Tuesday night
- Fire set by unidentified persons, FIR registered: Police
- New UP government has promised crack down on slaughterhouses
Three meat shops were set on fire by a mob in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday night.
The police said the shops were burnt by "anti-social elements".
"Unidentified persons set ablaze three shops selling fish and meat. An FIR has been registered against them," said police officer Dilip Kumar Srivastava.
There have been protests in the area after the incidents, which took place two days after Yogi Adityanath took charge as Chief Minister at the head of a new BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.
The 44-year-old priest politician has campaigned aggressively against slaughterhouses and the BJP has said that a promised ban will soon come into effect. The party asserts that only illegal slaughterhouses will be shut down, rubbishing speculation that there will be a blanket ban.
The BJP's manifesto for the election had promised "stern steps to close down all illegal slaughterhouses besides banning mechanised slaughterhouses".
On Monday, two slaughterhouses were shut down; officials said they were illegal.
Yesterday, police in Ghaziabad shut down 10 meat shops and four slaughterhouses that were allegedly running illegally.
The Uttar Pradesh police has also sent orders to all police stations to take firm action against illegal slaughterhouses and cattle smuggling.