Seven slaughterhouse sealed in Bihar

Patna : A week after opposition BJP demanded that illegal slaughterhouses flourishing in Bihar should be closed, seven of them were sealed in Rohtas district on Saturday, officials said.

The district administration bordering Uttar Pradesh, sealed the illegal slaughterhouses running for years, following clearance of action against them from the top brass in Patna, an official said.

The state government is also likely to take further action against illegal slaughterhouses in coming days in line with the Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath, the official said.

District officials in Rohtas said action against the slaughterhouses was taken after a directive from the Patna High Court that they be sealed within six weeks. The licenses of these slaughterhouses expired on Friday.

Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar had raised the issue of illegal slaughterhouses in the state assembly last week demanding their immediate closure in Bihar.

He also said that licences of all slaughterhouses should be cancelled adding that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was keen on making Bihar beef-free to ensure protection of cows. "Bihar should ban beef in line with Maharashtra," he said.

According to officials, cow slaughter is banned in Bihar as per a 1955 law. But the trade continues unabated due to a flaw in the law that permits killing of cow, buffalo or bull more than 15 years old or diseased. 

The violation of this provision invites a maximum jail term of six months and a fine of Rs 1,000.