India: Meat shops forced to close for Hindu festival

By Ahmad Adil

CHANDIGARH, India (AA) - Members of a right-wing group on Sunday shut numerous meat shops in India's northern state of Haryana in the wake of the Hindu festival of Navratri.

"Our members marched to different areas of Guruguram [a district in Haryana] and asked shops selling meat and chicken in the area to close down. The Navratri festival started on Saturday and it hurt the sentiments of Hindu people when they crossed the area," Ritu Raj, an activist of the Hindu Sena outfit, told Anadolu Agency.

During the nine-day festival people observe fast, hold prayers and abstain from eating non-vegetarian food.

Local media reported members of the outfit were carrying sticks and swords.

“Members of the Hindu Sena brandishing batons, hockey sticks, swords and iron rods were seen pulling down shutters of several meat and chicken outlets,” IANS said in a report.

Sumer Singh, a senior police official in Gurugram district, told Anadolu Agency two people have been arrested in the case.

“The matter is being investigated,” he said.

Since 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power there has been a rise in attacks on Muslims over suspicions of eating or carrying beef.

Cows are considered sacred in the Hindu religion.