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| Rotten meat racket: Bhopal-to-Kashmir supply route exposed through railway parcels | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 14: The recovery of 44 boxes containing over 1,600 kilograms of rotten meat from a train has exposed a possible interstate network involved in supplying unhygienic meat to Kashmir, with the consignment reportedly originating in Bhopal and reaching the Valley via Delhi.
Although authorities have maintained a guarded silence over the gang involved in smuggling unhygienic meat, some documents that have gone viral on social media reveal that the parcel containing the rotten meat was booked from Bhopal and transported to Kashmir via Delhi.
It is pertinent to mention that meat smugglers had previously been using highways and air routes to transport unhygienic meat. However, this is reportedly the first time that railway parcels have been used to transport such meat to the Valley.
In a major enforcement action against the transportation of unsafe food commodities, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, seized and subsequently destroyed approximately 1,600 kilograms of meat at Budgam Railway Station after detecting serious violations of prescribed food safety requirements.
According to an official press release issued by the Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, J&K, the action was carried out jointly by the FDA, Railway Police, railway authorities, the District Administration Budgam and the Municipal Committee Budgam. The enforcement operation was launched following specific information received from railway authorities Some documents that have gone viral on social media reveal that the parcel containing the rotten meat was booked from Bhopal and transported to Kashmir via Delhi.
Meat smugglers were previously using highways and air routes to transport unhygienic meat. However, this is reportedly the first time that railway parcels have been used to transport such meat into the Valley.
The seizure was carried out jointly by the FDA, Railway Police, railway authorities, the District Administration Budgam and the Municipal Committee Budgam.
During the inspection, the Food Safety Team, Budgam, found that adequate refrigeration or dry-ice arrangements had not been made to maintain the mandatory cold-chain temperature of minus 18 degrees Celsius or below during transportation.
Officials said the failure to maintain the prescribed temperature compromised essential food safety requirements.
The consignment was subsequently subjected to preliminary testing through the Food Safety on Wheels facility, which indicated that the meat was unfit for human consumption.
Taking serious note of the violations, authorities seized the entire consignment, weighing approximately 1,600 kilograms, and destroyed it in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and prescribed disposal procedures.
The FDA further revealed that, in an earlier enforcement operation, Food Safety Authorities had seized approximately 2,600 kilograms of meat in Srinagar, indicating intensified surveillance against the transportation and distribution of unsafe food products across Jammu and Kashmir.
The department said it continues to maintain strict vigilance across all districts to prevent the transportation, distribution and sale of unsafe and non-compliant food commodities.
It also warned that stringent legal action would be initiated against violators under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules and regulations framed thereunder. |
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