Omar Abdullah’s Big Decision on Unsafe Meat Across J&K
Srinagar, August 11 (ProKashmiri.in): The Jammu and Kashmir government has swung into action after a disturbing rise in reports of unsafe and unlabelled meat being sold across the Valley. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired an emergency meeting at the Civil Secretariat this morning to address what health officials are calling one of the most serious food safety lapses in recent years.
The decision follows a week of high-profile seizures, where enforcement teams intercepted truckloads of meat in Srinagar, Budgam, Pulwama, and parts of north Kashmir. Many consignments were transported without any labels, slaughter certification, or refrigeration, and in several cases, the meat was already decomposing when found. Officials say some shipments had entered the Valley under false declarations, bypassing mandatory health checks at entry points.
Recent raids by the Food Safety Department revealed that certain wholesale suppliers and retail shops were storing meat in filthy conditions. In one Srinagar warehouse, inspectors discovered slabs of meat piled on the floor, swarming with flies, with no ice or cold storage in sight. In Anantnag, officials seized nearly 400 kilograms of meat that was being sold without any proof of origin. The seized goods have since been destroyed.
According to information accessed by ProKashmiri.in, the Chief Minister demanded a complete breakdown of the meat supply chain, from slaughterhouses and cold storages to transportation and final sale. Border inspection posts, especially at Qazigund and Lakhanpur, are expected to come under sharp scrutiny, as these are the main entry points for meat shipments coming into Jammu and Kashmir. CM also questioned why existing checks failed to detect these contaminated consignments before they reached markets.
Government insiders say the administration is preparing a “zero-tolerance” approach towards food safety violations. This may include shutting down non-compliant butcher shops, suspending licences, prosecuting traders under the Food Safety and Standards Act, and imposing heavy fines. Market inspectors have been given more powers to conduct unannounced raids and seize products immediately.
Sources told ProKashmiri.in that the meeting also discussed setting up a real-time reporting system, so that any suspicious shipment can be flagged instantly between departments. There are proposals to deploy mobile testing vans in major markets like Lal Chowk, Anantnag town, and Sopore, allowing meat to be tested for contamination on the spot. This would significantly cut down delays in detecting unsafe products.
Public anger over the issue is growing. In Srinagar’s Batamaloo market, shoppers told ProKashmiri.in that they were now avoiding meat altogether, fearing it could be spoiled. “We can’t take the risk of feeding this to our families,” said one resident. In Baramulla, some traders have already reported a sharp drop in meat sales, as buyers demand proof of inspection before purchase.
The crisis has revived memories of previous scandals, including the 2018 incident when tonnes of expired poultry were seized in the Valley, prompting a temporary ban on certain suppliers. Many are now calling for an independent oversight body to monitor meat and poultry quality throughout the year, not just during raids.
Whether these changes will restore public confidence remains to be seen, but the message from the administration is already clear, unsafe meat will not be tolerated in Jammu and Kashmir.
