Overview
- The Rampurhat Municipality issued a circular, sent to shop owners, the Sub‑Divisional Magistrate and local police, directing three meat shops in Court Gali to remain shut on Sunday and Monday (November 15 and 16) until 10:00 am.
- Chairman Soumen Bhakat said the limited restriction was taken after talks with police and local MLAs to prevent animals being slaughtered in full public view and to stop blood or water from spilling onto roads used by barefoot Chhath worshippers.
- The circular also told vendors to keep cut meat covered with a red cloth on other days, a measure officials described as a sanitary and sentiment-sensitive step.
- Shop owners said they were told by phone and warned of heavy losses, while CPI(M) and Congress leaders accused the civic body of importing non‑Bengali practices for political gain and called the order divisive; the BJP said opponents could seek remedy in court.
- Local reporting links the order to earlier festival-related meat-shop controversies and shows the dispute could deepen cultural and political tensions in Birbhum, with possible legal challenges and continued protests likely to follow.