Patna: Close on the heels of Uttar Pradesh, the government in Bihar has announced the closure of all illegally running slaughterhouses in the state. As per an official estimate, some 150 slaughterhouses are currently operating across the state, of which only few are said to be legal.
In a crackdown on such abattoirs, the animal husbandry minister Awadhesh Kumar Singh has asked all district magistrates and district superintendents of police to shut down all illegally-running slaughter houses and also keep a close watch on those functioning with government permission. The minister made these announcements while replying to a question in the Bihar assembly on Saturday.
“We have sought a detailed report from the district authorities on illegal slaughterhouses so that steps could be taken to stop such illegal activities,” the minister told the media later.
The development comes shortly after the opposition Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) sought the closure of all illegal slaughterhouses in the state in a move similar to one imposed in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. The BJP also raised the issue in the state.
“We have demanded closing down of illegal slaughterhouses and cancellation of licenses issued for these in the state,” Bihar opposition leader Prem Kumar of the BJP said on Thursday. He added the BJP was keen on making Bihar a “beef-free” state to ensure protection of bovines.
The Bihar Preservation and Improvement of Animals Act 1955 allows slaughtering of only those animals that are more than 15 years old or disabled yet killing of bovines goes on unabated in the state, allege animal rights activists. Reports said most of the slaughterhouses are operating in border districts Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj and Katihar.
So far a number of illegal slaughterhouses have been shut in Uttar Pradesh including Tunday Kababi, one of the iconic eateries of Lucknow selling kebabs made of buffalo meat, since the BJP government headed by hardline Hindu leader Yogi Adityanath took charge of the state last week after recent elections. Reports said closure of illegal abattoirs was one of the poll promises of Adityanath, currently the BJP parliamentarian in addition to the head priest of Gorakhnath temple.
