On Wednesday (May 28), tension erupted in the Nauchandi area of Meerut after reports of a goat being slaughtered inside the Durga Temple complex at Nauchandi Ground surfaced. As the news spread, members of Narasimha Vahini and several Hindu organisations rushed to the spot and staged a strong protest.
The protesters alleged that workers engaged in setting up fair swings inside the temple complex slaughtered and cooked a goat within the premises. The incident triggered outrage among local residents and Hindu activists, who accused the contractors of negligence and demanded strict action against those involved.
Protesters Surround Contractors
During the protest, activists also surrounded swing contractors present at the site. They questioned why people from a particular community received permission to work inside the temple premises. Slogans echoed across the area as tempers ran high and the atmosphere turned tense.
Swing contractor Lalit Mohan Sharma said he had already warned all workers a day earlier not to create any kind of disturbance or engage in activities that could hurt religious sentiments. Despite the warning, the controversy broke out and quickly escalated.
Police Reach Spot, Two Taken Into Custody
After receiving information about the unrest, Nauchandi police reached the spot with heavy force and tried to calm the protesters. Police officers held talks with local people and managed to bring the situation under control before the tension worsened further.
Police detained Rajasthan-based swing worker Gadha Khan for questioning. Officers also seized the goat meat found at the location and started an investigation. According to police sources, officials registered a case against two accused persons connected to the matter.
SP City Appeals for Peace
Meerut SP City Vinayak Gopal Bhosale later clarified the police position on the incident. He said a swing worker from Rajasthan had allegedly brought meat from outside. Police took him into custody and started questioning him to verify all facts linked to the case.
Following the incident, Hindu organisations demanded a complete ban on the entry of Muslims inside the temple complex to prevent such controversies in the future. Meanwhile, police deployed additional personnel in the area and appealed to people not to pay attention to rumours or spread misinformation.
