Bhopal: Amid an escalating row over the seizure of alleged cow meat and irregularities in a slaughterhouse, members of several organisations, including the Bajrang Dal, staged a fresh round of protest on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of Bhopal Mayor Malti Rai.
During the protest outside Malti Rai’s residence in the city, right-wing members, holding posters and banners, chanted slogans and recited the Hanuman Chalisa. The protesters also smeared black ink on the nameplate.
Right-wing members accused Mayor Malti Rai of shielding those involved in alleged cow slaughter and operating the slaughterhouse with the connivance of officials in the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC). The protesters alleged that Mayor Rai tried to suppress the issue despite the police registering a case in the matter.
Additional Police Commissioner (ACP) Ankita Khatarkar reached the spot soon after the protest began and brought the law-and-order situation under control.
She stated that the protest was organised without obtaining mandatory permission from the local police station, and that action would be taken in the matter.
In another development, a group of Congress workers visited the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Madhya Pradesh Police and handed over a memorandum, demanding an investigation into alleged irregularities in the tendering process of the slaughterhouse in Bhopal.
“Documents clearly show that the Bhopal Municipal Corporation had invited tenders for the slaughterhouse, which were later cancelled. The question arises: when the tenders were cancelled, how was the slaughterhouse operating? We have submitted documents to the EOW and demanded an investigation into the matter,” Abhinav Barolia, a Congress spokesperson, told IANS.
The Bhopal Municipal Corporation has sealed the Jahangirabad slaughterhouse, which is under scrutiny, after a forensic report confirmed that the seized container truck carried prohibited meat (beef).
Two weeks ago, the state government suspended over a dozen civic officials, including the in-charge of the slaughterhouse, and ordered an inquiry into the matter.
The matter came to light on December 17 when members of a right-wing organisation intercepted a container truck near the Police Headquarters in the Jahangirabad area, alleging that it was carrying prohibited meat for supply outside the state and possibly abroad.
The container was found loaded with over 25 tonnes of meat. Police seized the vehicle and the consignment. However, the civic body did not take action in the matter until right-wing members staged protests at the Police Headquarters and the civic body’s office a few days ago.
(IANS)
