Ghaziabad, (IANS) : The Ghaziabad administration sealed on Tuesday 15 slaughter houses operating illegally in the city.

Launching a massive drive, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Atul Kumar, accompanied by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Police Inspectors and constables, raided and razed 15 slaughter houses and retail meat outlets in Islam Nagar and Kaila Bhatta, among other areas, of the city.

The team sealed the slaughter houses and the retail outlets after ascertaining that those were being run without any licence and in violation of the municipal laws.

The officials collected samples of meat sold at those places and the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) sent the samples for lab test.

One Aslam produced his licence to the raiding team, which was found fake during verification from the signing officer. Four retail outlets were found running on fake documents.

“FIRs are being lodged against the erring persons for forging documents and violating municipal laws,” said SDM Kumar.

“We are taking action in line with the state government’s directive to shut illegal slaughter houses and retail outlets across the state,” said Additional District Magistrate (ADM)-City Preeti Jaiswal.

“Ghaziabad is one of the first cities to launch the drive. Such raids will be conducted throughout the district up to tehsil and village level and legal action taken against the rule violators,” ADM Jaiswal said.