2 arrested for selling rotten meat in J&K, 5,000 kg seized in ongoing crackdown

Two people were arrested for allegedly selling rotten meat and expired eatables in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district on Friday, police said.

Authorities in Kashmir have seized over 5,000 kg of rotten meat over the last few weeks as part of a crackdown after the rotten meat scandal hit the valley.

Police have registered two FIRs against stockists and food sale points for storage and sale of rotten mutton items and other eatables in the central Kashmir district, a police spokesman said.

He said the police received reliable information that a person in Kondabal Safapora area of the district was allegedly selling rotten and unhygienic meat in frozen form and which was highly unfit and unsafe for human consumption.

Acting swiftly on the information, a special team of Safapora police station along with the Ganderbal food safety officer and executive magistrate reached the spot and conducted a thorough inspection of the shop belonging to Abdul Hameed Lone, a resident of Kondabal, the spokesman said.

During the search, a considerable quantity of boiled meat items in the form of kebabs and ristas (meat balls) were recovered. They were found in frozen, rotten and unhygienic conditions, making them clearly unfit for human consumption, he said.

The spokesman said a case was registered, the accused has been arrested, and an investigation has been taken up.

In another action, the spokesman said, the police received information that the owner of Hotel Matamal Food Sale Point located at Beehama area of the district was using expired edible items in cooking food.

After receiving information, a team from Ganderbal police station reached the location and, during the search, expired edible items were seized from its kitchen, the spokesman said.

He said the police registered a case, the accused was arrested and an investigation was taken up.

In a similar action in Budgam district, the police registered cases against two food outlets for multiple violations of food safety and hygiene standards.

The spokesman said that the police alongwith Charar-i-Sharief food safety officer conducted extensive market checking in areas in Pakherpora and during the inspection, multiple violations of food safety and hygiene standards were detected.

Fines were imposed on several restaurant owners and food business operators (FBOs), the spokesman said.

He said a case has been registered against two restaurants, New Arabian Nights and Shahi Darbar, for selling rotten meat and maintaining unhygienic conditions.

Police undertook such action in other areas of the valley.

In Shopian, during the inspections, multiple violations of food safety and hygiene standards were detected.

Consequently, fines were imposed on several erring establishments, including Hotel Tabish, Fish Shop Bongam Shopian, Restaurant Hungary Hills, Brand Habibi (Zainapora), Sofi Bakers (Imamsahib) and a vegetable and fruit shop in Keller, the spokesman said.

He said six FIRs were registered against the owners for gross violations and unhygienic practices that posed a serious threat to public health.

In Awantipora area of Pulwama, several violations of food safety and hygiene standards were found during the inspection, the spokesman said.

As a result, fines were imposed on the erring restaurant owners including Amritsar Haveli Lethpora, Abdullha Restaurant Lethpora, Clock Towers Awantipora and Black Pearl Awantipora.

In addition, an FIR was registered against Red Sauce Restaurant Kachkoot owners for gross violations and unhygienic practices endangering public health, the spokesman added.

In Kulgam, fines were imposed on several erring establishments, including hotels, restaurants and vegetable and fruit vendors.

FIRs were registered against certain proprietors for grossly unhygienic practices, which posed a grave risk to public health, the spokesman said.

- Ends

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