The Hindu                25.04.2013

Meat shops violating Mahavir Jayanthi closure penalised

Chennai Corporation on Wednesday identified 73 shops that violated the government order prohibiting slaughter of animals on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanthi.

Over 710 kg of meat was seized from stalls that refused to toe the line hours after having been warned by corporation officials.

Butchers in areas including Korukkupet and Villivakkam had objected to the action by Corporation officials who tried to stop them from selling meat products citing the order that prohibited slaughter of animals or sale of meat in the State on Mahavir Jayanthi, Thiruvalluvar day and Vallalar Memorial day.

Around 1,900 meat shops in Chennai Corporation limits remained closed on Wednesday as slaughterhouses in the city did not function.

Though slaughterhouses in areas such as Perambur, Saidapet and Villivakkam remained closed, a number of complaints were received from residents in areas such as Kodambakkam, Ambattur and Villivakkam.

The Chennai Corporation had warned butchers of action against carrying out business on Mahavir Jayanthi. “But many of the shopkeepers said they were not aware of the order of the government prohibiting the slaughter of animals and sale of meat on Mahavir Jayanthi,” said an official of Chennai Corporation.

“We were asked to give warning to shops in the morning. We took action against shops that remained open one hour after the warning was issued,” the official said.