Bilal Habib
Pampore, August 6: In a shocking incident that raised serious concerns over public health and food safety, around 400 kilograms of rotten, packed meat was found dumped along the roadside near Pul Par Kadlabal in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday. The site falls under the jurisdiction of Police Station Kakapora.
Officials from the Food Safety Department said the spoiled meat had been recklessly thrown by unknown individuals, creating panic among local residents due to the foul smell and potential risk of contamination. The incident has been described as a gross violation of food safety norms and an act of “irresponsibility” by the authorities.
Acting swiftly, a joint team led by Assistant Commissioner Food Safety Pulwama, Hilal Ahmad Mir, and Station House Officer (SHO) Syed Showkat Ahmad, accompanied by other officials, reached the site and supervised the safe and hygienic disposal of the decomposed meat as per standard protocol.
“This is a serious act of irresponsibility. The culprits will be traced, and legal action will be taken,” said an official, confirming that an investigation is underway to identify those responsible for dumping the meat in such a dangerous manner.
Speaking to Kashmir Convener, Assistant Commissioner Hilal Ahmad Mir explained that recent enforcement actions by the department, in coordination with the police, have led to increasing pressure on those dealing with improper or unlabeled meat products, particularly those brought in from outside the district.
“Today’s incident is a direct consequence of that pressure. When such individuals can no longer risk selling unverified or stale meat, they resort to destroying or dumping it to avoid detection,” he said, adding that the dumped meat was collected and disposed of following safety standards.
Mir urged the public to remain vigilant and report any concerns regarding food quality. “We have already circulated our toll-free complaint number — 104 — through media channels. We assure immediate response to all such complaints,” he said.
He further added that the department recently held a high-level meeting under the directions of Secretary Abid Rasid and the Commissioner of Food Safety, where it was resolved to take strict action against unregulated meat businesses. “We are committed to ensuring that only safe and hygienic food reaches consumers,” Mir said.
Appealing for public cooperation, Mir encouraged citizens to report any illegal or unhygienic practices in the meat trade. “Contact our toll-free number or reach out to district or divisional offices. Once we receive credible information, we will take prompt and appropriate action,” he said.
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