Srinagar: Police on Friday arrested two persons in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district for allegedly selling rotten meat and expired food items.
Authorities have seized over 5,000 kg of spoiled meat in recent weeks as part of a valley-wide crackdown following a rotten meat scandal. Police said two FIRs were registered against stockists and food outlets in central Kashmir for storing and selling unsafe mutton and other eatables.
Acting on a tip-off, a special team from Safapora police station, along with the Ganderbal food safety officer and an executive magistrate, inspected the shop of Abdul Hameed Lone in Kondabal Safapora. During the raid, a large quantity of frozen kebabs and ristas (meatballs) were found in rotten and unhygienic condition. The items were declared unfit for human consumption. The shop owner was arrested and a case registered.
In a separate action, police raided Hotel Matamal Food Sale Point in Beehama after reports that expired food items were being used in its kitchen. Expired stocks were seized, the owner was arrested, and another case registered.
Similar drives were conducted in other districts. In Budgam’s Pakherpora, police and the food safety officer of Charar-i-Sharief detected multiple hygiene violations during inspections. Fines were imposed, and cases registered against restaurants New Arabian Nights and Shahi Darbar for selling rotten meat and maintaining unhygienic conditions.
In Shopian, several establishments were fined for food safety violations, including Hotel Tabish, Fish Shop Bongam, Restaurant Hungary Hills, Brand Habibi (Zainapora), Sofi Bakers (Imamsahib), and a fruit and vegetable shop in Keller. Six FIRs were lodged for gross violations threatening public health.
In Pulwama’s Awantipora, fines were imposed on eateries including Amritsar Haveli Lethpora, Abdullha Restaurant Lethpora, Clock Towers Awantipora, and Black Pearl Awantipora. An FIR was also filed against Red Sauce Restaurant Kachkoot for serious hygiene breaches.
In Kulgam, fines were levied on several hotels, restaurants, and vendors. Police also filed FIRs against some proprietors for unhygienic practices that posed a grave public health risk.
