Lucknow, March 29 -- The Uttar Pradesh government, headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has issued strict orders to shut down illegal slaughterhouses and enforce a ban on the sale of meat within a 500-meter radius of religious sites.

Amrit Abhijat, Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department, has directed all District Magistrates, Police Commissioners, and Municipal Commissioners to promptly close down illegal slaughterhouses and ensure strict implementation of the meat sale ban near religious places.

Citing orders issued in 2014 and 2017, the Yogi government has clarified that illegal animal slaughter and meat sales near religious places will be completely banned. To ensure effective implementation, district-level comm...