Bajrang Dal activists raid meat packaging unit in Meerut, beat up BJP worker

A BJP worker, accused of being involved in the running of an illegal meat packaging unit in Meerut’s Jaibheemnagar locality, was among few persons beaten up by Bajrang Dal activists who raided the unit on Sunday night.

The Dal’s state convener, Balraj Doonger said its activists had raided the unit after receiving a tipoff that there was a meat packaging unit being run under the garb of making cricket bats.

Dal leaders didn’t inform police in order to keep it confidential. They caught unit owners Rahul Raghav and Anuj Choudhary, recovered stored meat and then informed the police.

As police came and started seizing the meat, BJP worker Rahul Thakur arrived at the spot and manhandled the cops. Suspecting his involvement with the unit, Bajrang Dal activists beat him up too.

Doonger said Thakur had claimed to have arrived there on being informed by media persons, but they later found that his mobile phone had several missed calls from the unit owners.

During the clash, the unit owners managed to escape, but police have taken into custody one Pankaj and his aide from the unit.

A case has been registered against the meat packaging unit owners, and the stored meat has been sent for testing.

Bajrang Dal activists have demanded the arrest of the unit’s owners, besides action against cops who aided the running of the unit.

Officiating SSP, Sahdev said police would register a case against the Bajrang Dal activists if Thakur lodged a complaint against them.

Injured BJP worker Rahul Thakur (Chahatram/HT PHOTO)

Injured Thakur, who was admitted to the government medical college hospital, allegedly asked doctors to mark the injuries as those done by sharp edged weapons, so that he could file a stronger case against the Bajrang Dal activists. However, the doctors refused to do anything wrong.

BJP’s city unit president, Karunesh Nandan Garg has admitted that Thakur is a party worker and a report has been sought about his activities regarding involvement in the meat packaging unit.

“I will initiate action on the basis of the findings of party workers,” Garg said, adding that he would also speak to Doonger on the issue.

Uttar Pradesh has seen a massive crackdown on the meat industry by police—and saffron activists—ever since BJP’s Yogi Adityanath assumed power, resulting in shutdown of several slaughter houses and loss of livelihood for hundreds of workers, besides shortage of meat-based dishes.