Kulgam butcher arrested on suspicion of selling rotten meat

SRINAGAR — A butcher in southern Kashmir’s Kulgam district was arrested after people became apprehensive of the accused being likely selling the meat of dead sheep to customers, said Tehsildar Kulgam, Bilal Ahmad on Monday.

Ahmad told the news agency CNS that the accused was arrested and his shop was sealed during a drive conducted against the erring butchers in Kulgam.

“We had received complaints that the butcher was not slaughtering the sheep at the old slaughterhouse in the district. Therefore, people were apprehensive that the butcher might have been selling the meat of dead sheep. We had also apprised him earlier through notices that he should slaughter sheep at the abattoir, where the doctors check whether animals are alive or not,” Tehsildar Kulgam, Bilal Ahmad said.

He said that samples of meat, which was being sold to people, were also taken by a team comprising officers from the Food Safety Department, Municipal Committee Kulgam and others.

Tehsildar Kulgam also advised the people and those associated with the sale of meat that they should bring their stock to the designated abattoir for the sheep or other animals’ slaughter.

“People who buy the meat are also informed that they should check whether the meat being sold to them has the seal of the concerned government departments,” he added.