119 dead chickens with ‘clean’ certificate shake Kashmir’s food safety claims

Srinagar, Dec 7: In a shocking revelation that raises serious questions about alleged criminal callousness in the livestock industry and food supply monitoring department, 119 dead poultry birds were discovered in a truckload of poultry just hours after the Animal Husbandry Department had issued a certificate declaring all 2700 chickens alive and healthy.

The incident was brought to the fore by an animal rights group on Sunday afternoon.

The truck carrying the suspicious consignment of chickens had been provided the green signal by the Animal Husbandry Department Livestock Check Post and Quarantine Center located at Zig-Lower Munda, Qazigund, Anantnag.

The certificate, a copy of which is in possession of Greater Kashmir, and signed by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon at the Check Post, states that the inspected stock of 2700 birds is “healthy”.

It states that no dead birds and no sick birds were found upon inspection.

The certificate further states that, following the inspection, the department “allowed 2700 healthy birds to be transported into Kashmir, showing no apparent symptoms of any contagious disease”.

Yet, a few hours later, Animal Rescue Kashmir (ARK), an animal rights organisation, incidentally discovered the truck being unloaded suspiciously on Aluchi Bagh Bund.

“When we asked about the sick birds, they denied and showed us the certificate issued by Animal Husbandry. And then we inspected the truck, and found so many dead birds,” Director ARK, Dawood Muhammad, said.

He said he alerted the Food Safety Department and contacted the Animal Husbandry Department as well, seeking intervention into the dead poultry stock being transported.

Dr Muhammad Ashraf Dar, who is incharge of the checkpost and Liver Flu Officer, Kashmir, said when the department checked the stock, there was “no mortality”.

He said the consignment was meant for Pulwama, but the dealer in Pulwama “refused” to take the stock.

“The truck was sent to Batamaloo, Srinagar, from Pulwama, and the unloading was delayed by a few hours, which could have caused mortality,” Dr Dar said. “It is but natural.”

Later, he said, the truck with dead birds was apprehended on its way back at Qazigund, and samples for postmortem were taken.

“Apparently, the birds died of starvation and hypothermia,” Dr Dar said.

Suspicions grew with closer scrutiny of the certificate issued by Animal Husbandry.

The consignment was without a receipt, and nothing is known about the origin of the poultry birds.

‘Punjab’ is the only word mentioned.

As per the recent directives of the Food Safety Department, J&K, all high-risk consignments, including poultry, must carry mandatory traceability markers.

These include batch and lot numbers linked to the originating farm and veterinary health certificates.