In a first by UP government, the police on Saturday arrested a man associated with Gau Raksha Dal for forcing meat shops to shut down during the festival of Navratri in Greater Noida.
In the last one week the outfit had forced several meat shops to shut down at different places and the main accused has been identified as Ved Nagar, head of the outfit.
Manish Saxena, Noida Police PRO, said that the police received intimation that Nagar along with his supporters would planning again to shut down meat shops on Saturday.
“Police also received information from media that he was involved in such arbitrary activities. We traced the accused in Acheja village and arrested him under Section 151 of IPC,” he said.
The same outfit had earlier made claims of petitioning the district administration and Badalpur police station last month to stop meat sales during Navratri, however, decided to go ahead and take charge themselves, when it received no response.
Many other meat and fish sellers decided to shut their shop voluntarily after fearing vandalism by the said group.
DM BN Singh said that he directed the police officials to take action against such people who try to disturb peace and tranquility. “We will not allow any person to breach law and order situations,” he said.
Earlier Gautam Budh Nagar SP (rural), Suniti said that the local intelligence units have been sensitized to report such matters if they get any such information. “SHOs have also been asked to ensure law and order is not compromised anywhere,” she said.
The UP government has been under huge criticism with regards to mob vigilantism and Gau Rakshaks which started with the lynching of Mohammed Akhlaq in Dadri. The government and administration must be highly commended to take strict action against this unlawful force by self-imposed authoritarians.
This shall set a precedent for all others in the state who are trying to force their might against the law. This should also prompt other states such as Haryana and Maharashtra where forcing meat shops to shut down during Navratri has been reported year after year.