After two in Allahabad, another illegal slaughterhouse sealed in Varanasi; hunt on for others

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Varanasi: A slaughterhouse, which was allegedly being run illegally, was sealed by the district authorities in the Kamalgadaha locality under Jaitpura police station here, police officials said.

The development comes only two days after a BJP government led by chief minister Yogi Adityanath was sworn in Uttar Pradesh.

Officials claimed, that the slaughterhouse had been shutdown in 2012, but it continued to operate in a clandestine manner.

A joint team of Pollution Control Board, municipal authorities, along with administrative and police officials sealed the slaughterhouse and also recovered over five dozen cattle.

Officials said that the slaughterhouse was sealed after the caretakers were unable to furnish valid papers for the cattle.

The caretakers it is learnt told authorities that the cattle had been brought in temporarily and were to be transferred to other places. They also denied that animals were being slaughtered, it is learnt.

However, not convinced, the authorities decided to seal the abattoir.

Earlier, shortly after Adityanath took oath two days back, authorities had sealed two slaughterhouses in Allahabad.

The BJP had announced, in its manifesto titled 'Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra', that it would take "stern steps to close down all illegal slaughterhouses besides banning mechanised slaughterhouses" if it comes to power.