Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD)In a disturbing incident raising fresh concerns over food safety in the Valley, authorities on Saturday seized multiple bags of rotten minced mutton from Bahlajpora, Soura, barely a short distance from the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) hospital. The decomposed meat, emanating a strong and nauseating stench, was discovered after residents alerted officials to its presence.
According to locals, the foul smell had been lingering in the neighbourhood for days, prompting fears of a public health hazard. Acting on complaints, a joint team from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and health officials raided the site, recovering the heavily decomposed meat stored in polythene bags. The consignment was immediately confiscated and safely disposed of to prevent contamination or sale in local markets. Samples have been sent to a food testing laboratory to determine its exact origin and quality.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the meat may have been part of an illegal supply chain, possibly intended for sale to unsuspecting consumers or used in low-cost eateries. Authorities are probing whether the consignment was being stored before processing or distribution.
The seizure comes just days after a series of similar food safety crackdowns across Srinagar. In recent days, enforcement teams have confiscated expired poultry, spoiled fish, and other unfit-for-consumption items from various markets. The Food Safety Department has stepped up surprise inspections following multiple public complaints about substandard meat being sold in some localities.
“This is not just about bad meat — it’s about deliberate negligence that puts lives at risk,” said a resident, demanding continuous monitoring of butcher shops, cold storage facilities, and meat transporters.
Police have registered a case and are working to identify those behind the illegal stockpile. Officials have assured strict legal action under food safety laws, including heavy fines and possible imprisonment for those found guilty.
The incident underscores the urgent need for tighter oversight of Srinagar’s food supply chain — especially at a time when multiple such violations have been detected in just the past few days.(DD)
