Srinagar, Aug 12 (UNI) Police and the Food Safety Department (FDA) in Srinagar conducted raids at multiple locations across the city, targeting vendors suspected of selling unhygienic and unsafe meat products.
During the joint operation, substantial quantities of rotten meat were seized and destroyed on the spot under relevant sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
In one such action, Srinagar Police in collaboration with officials of the Food Safety and Standards Association of India ( FSSAI ) conducted a raid on a cold storage unit in Parimpora where rotten meat was stored, which was seized, subsequently leading to the seizure of the cold storage under relevant section of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Officials confirmed that the action is part of an intensified drive to safeguard public health and ensure strict adherence to food safety standards.
Similarly, acting on credible input received at Police Station Zakoora, authorities identified Ab Hameed Kuchay, a resident of Soura and operator of Sunshine Foods located at SICOP Zakoora, as a key suspect.
He is alleged to be involved in a criminal conspiracy with Arif Ahmad Shah, of Baghat Barzulla, to supply decomposed meat unfit for consumption in large quantities to restaurants and hotels across Srinagar, policed said.
Police stated that this deliberate act of distributing rotten meat poses a serious threat to public health and constitutes a grave offence under applicable laws.
Consequently, FIR was registered at Police Station Zakoora under sections 271, 275, and 61(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further investigation is underway.
Over the past few days, the FDA has confiscated over 11,000 kilograms of “rotten and unlabelled” meat in raids carried out in several parts of Kashmir triggering panic among the residents.
Amid the public outrage, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday chaired a high-level meeting to review the ongoing food safety enforcement campaign.The Chief Minister ordered “exemplary punitive action” against anyone found selling or storing unsafe food.
