In a shocking development in the densely populated Shaheed Nagar area of Agra, which is barely 3 km away from the Taj Mahal, a large number of Hindu families have posted For Sale’ signs on their houses.

The reason purportedly is due to the recent opening of shops selling meat in the area by Muslims. Several government shops selling alcohol have also opened in the area recently, exacerbating the situation.

Talking to IndiaToday.in, several homeowners who have placed their houses on sale claimed that the area has become a haunt of anti-social elements with hooligans coming in cars at night, eating non-veg food, drinking in public, playing loud music and using vulgar language. While leaving these anti-social elements litter the neighbourhood.

If that wasn’t enough local women are apprehensive of moving around after dark. These anti-social elements have even tried to grab a few girls.

A local resident told IndiaToday.in that they had tried to reason with the meat shop owners, requesting them to either shift their shops or stop serving meat for consumption on-site.

However, these shopkeepers are supported by the local police, so they have not moved. Several complaints to the administration and the state government have gone unheard. Even complaints to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have fallen on deaf ears.

He said that today, Shaheed Nagar, which is a mixed-population area, has become the non-veg hub of Agra, and it has become difficult for vegetarians to live here in the current environment.

On Friday, a team of Agra Development Authority and excise department conducted an inspection of the area, sealing several shops, which had been opened illegally on residential properties. Chief Engineer Triloki Nath assured local residents that all shops opened in residential properties will be sealed and not allowed to be reopened.

Agra Senior Superintendent of Police Bablu Kumar expressed concern over the entire episode and said that he has issued instructions for a night-time vigil in the area by the police. He said that open bars and meat shops on the streets will not be allowed and the law against drinking in public places will be strictly enforced throughout the city.

Poonam Sharma, a local resident expressed satisfaction at the action taken by the local administration but said that this action should have been taken a long time back.

She said that it remains to be seen for how long the effects of this action last as earlier too, some administrative strictness had prompted the closure of some shops in the area but they always reopen.

If the same is repeated again, her family will have to move from this area. For now, she said, the For Sale’ signs will stay up in the area.