A group of butchers in north Chennai on Thursday allegedly attacked officials of the Chennai Corporation and damaged their vehicle when the officials tried to stop them from selling meat products as a government order prohibited slaughter on Vadalur Ramalingar (Vallalar) Memorial Day.
Slaughter of animals or sale of meat is prohibited in the State on Mahavir Jayanthi, Thiruvalluvar Day and Vallalar Memorial Day, according to a government order.
As part of their enforcement drive Corporation officials on Thursday raided 71 shops and seized 544 kg of meat.
According to a Corporation official, a group of officials who raided shops selling meat in Royapuram in the morning were prevented from discharging their duty by one of the shop owners in the locality.
The shop owner allegedly mobilised the support of other butchers in the locality. As the officials were trying to seize meat products, several people gathered and tried to attack the officials with sharp weapons.
Police intervened and took the officials, numbering around 10, to a community hall nearby. Corporation officials have lodged a complaint with the police against those who damaged the vehicles and attacked them.
Corporation Councillor E.Rajendran of ward 19, where the altercation occurred, said the situation was brought under control in the afternoon.
After the officials had left the place, some of the shops continued to sell meat while others remained closed. “We are not aware of the government order.
The officials did not inform us in advance about the government order either,” said K.Suraj, one of the workers at a meat shop that remained open in Royapuram on Thursday.
Corporation Commissioner D.Karthikeyan said the team of officials raided the shops following complaints from the public.
