LUCKNOW, March 29 -- The Uttar Pradesh government has issued a directive ordering closure of illegal slaughterhouses across the state and prohibiting meat shops within 500 metres of religious places, according to a government press release shared on Saturday.

In an order issued by Amrit Abhijat, principal secretary, urban development department, all district magistrates, police commissioners, municipal commissioners and other local authorities have been instructed to take immediate action to shut down unauthorised slaughterhouses and enforce restrictions on meat sales near places of worship.

The directive cites previous government orders from 2014 and 2017 that aimed to prevent illegal slaughtering of animals. According to the document,...