MCG wants police cover for drives to seal unauthorised meat shops

The development comes a week after a team of MCG officials was confronted and allegedly beaten with sticks by a group of eight men during a drive to seal illegal meat shops and slaughterhouses in Wazirabad village.

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has sought police protection for its team(s) carrying out sealing of illegal meat shops and slaughterhouses in the city, officials said on Friday.

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The development comes a week after a team of MCG officials was confronted and allegedly beaten with sticks by a group of eight men during a drive to seal illegal meat shops and slaughterhouses in Wazirabad village.

MCG commissioner Yashpal Yadav said the next drive for sealing illegal meat shops will take place only once “sufficient” police cover is provided for its staff. “Similar to seeking police protection for demolition drives, the MCG will ask the Gurugram police for protection prior to initiating sealing of illegal meat shops. Protection of our staff is of upmost importance,” Yadav said.

On May 3, six MCG staff members had gone to Wazirabad village after receiving information that illegal meat shops and slaughterhouses had resumed business in the area a month after they had carried out a sealing drive there. The MCG team sealed three shops, and when it was sealing a fourth one, eight men—two on a motorcycle and four men in a SUV—confronted them, and allegedly started beating them with sticks. The eight men fled the spot before the police could arrive. Since then, the MCG has not sealed any more illegal meat shop or slaughterhouse in the city.

“The morale of the MCG staff is low since the incident. Once we are assured that a police team will accompany us during sealing drives, only then will we initiate action,” said a senior MCG official privy to the development.

Based on a complaint filed by MCG medical officer Ashish Singla, the Gurugram police has arrested one man suspected of attacking the team, officials said.

Officials said the sealing drives do not have a long-term effect and many unauthorised meat shop owners resume business shortly after being fined or start operating in a new locality as the penalty is a paltry sum of ₹500, as stipulated under Section 329 of the Haryana Municipal Act.

There are 129 licensed meat shops in the city. The MCG does not have an estimated number of illegal meat shops.