SHAMLI: Forty-six individuals, including Mahant Swami Yashveer of Yog Sadhana Ashram in Baghra, Muzaffarnagar, were charged for “unlawful assembly” and “targeting another community” by UP police on Monday after the accused along with members of a right-wing group held a protest against non-veg hotels in Thana Bhawan, Shamli district, on Sept 29.
The FIR, filed by a senior sub-inspector of Thana Bhawan police station, states the accused have been charged under BNS sections 145, 323, and 299 for “unlawful assembly, targeting another community, delivering provocative speeches and performing religious rituals in front of a non-veg hotel”.
Mahant Yashveer, one of the accused, told TOI: “We were peacefully protesting for the lawful closure of non-veg shops within 100m of religious places like temples. The protest was called off after authorities’ assurances. But we came to know that an FIR has been registered against us.”
The police action took many by surprise in Shamli. An eatery owner selling non-veg food said that they conduct their business without disturbing anyone and respect every faith. “We’re happy we have been allowed to run our hotels in peace. We are grateful to the police.”