Authorities in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district have warned that those who sacrifice a cow, buffalo, camel or ox on Bakr-Eid on Saturday will attract charges under the Gangsters Act, PTI reported on Friday.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Sambhal Rashid Khan said station house officers have been asked to tour the district between September 2 and September 4 to prevent these animal sacrifices. Authorities will seize both immovable and movable properties of those behind these activities, Khan warned.

Suspects booked under the Gangsters Act will become part of a gang listed in police records. The law allows the police to keep track of those booked and summon them to police stations even if a fresh case has not been lodged against them.

Madrassas and Muslims have been confused about the qurbani (sacrifice) ritual since March, when the Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh began to crack down on slaughterhouses in the state. Moreover, in May, the Centre had issued a notification imposing a blanket ban on the slaughter of cattle at animal markets.