UP Meat sellers go on indefinite strike protesting police crackdown

The strike, being observed in a number of cities, including the state capital Lucknow and Allahabad, have reportedly led to a big surge in the number of buyers in fish markets, leading to a steep hike in the prices.

State Minister Siddharth Nath Singh  cautioned officials against shutting down establishments for minor things  like CCTVs.  "Vigilantism by police is unacceptable," he said and urged officials to not be "overexcited" in crackdown.

"Action being taken against illegal slaughterhouses only, legal slaughterhouses should continue to follow regulations. Those who have proper license would not be shut down," Singh said.

Several butcher shops and slaughterhouses across the state have complained that they are being targeted under the new dispensation. “Authorities are even closing down chicken shops,” a shop owner in Noida told NDTV.

While the BJP had  promised a ban on cow slaughter during the election campaign, but shortly after the party's Government took over, attacks  on several mutton and chicken shops were reported, which the Government said were the handiwork of "miscreants."

Police also took to the street taking action against illegal abattoirs, but even the registered experienced a supply shortage and feared of action by the Government.