Locals allege MC Kupwara, Handwara of approving mutton sales without quality verification
Kupwara, Aug 17: The Municipal Council Kupwara and Municipal Committee Handwara have come under criticism for stamping meat at local stalls without verifying its quality. Locals allege that officials neither confirm whether the sheep were slaughtered properly, raising fears that stale meat could be reaching consumers.
Residents allege that officials from the Municipal Council Kupwara and Municipal Committee Handwara arrive at butcher shops in the morning, stamp the slaughtered animals on the spot, and collect Rs 5 for sheep and goats and Rs 20 for larger animals, instead of ensuring slaughter takes place in the authorised abattoirs.
Despite having designated slaughterhouses in Kupwara and Handwara, butchers continue to slaughter animals at their homes, bypassing the mandated facilities.
While talking to Greater Kashmir, President of the Traders Federation Kupwara, Muhammad Ishaq voiced concern, saying that a slaughterhouse had been allotted at Galizo area of Kupwara but that has been never put to use. "Instead, municipal officials arrive at meat shops in the morning and simply stamp the meat for sale.This is a serious public health issue as we have no idea whether what we are eating is Halal, fresh, stale, or even from a dead animal," he remarked.
Locals say this practice not only undermines public health and hygiene standards but also reflects official negligence. They have urged the authorities to enforce existing rules and end what they call “a routine compromise on food safety.”
President of the Traders Federation Handwara, Mansoor Ahmad, said, "I have written to the Executive Officer Municipal Committee Handwara urging that the slaughterhouse near Talri bridge
be made functional and given the facilities it needs. Once it’s in proper working order, our butchers can slaughter animals the right way, following all protocols. This is the only way to ensure the meat reaching people is fresh, clean, and prepared with care.
District Sheep Husbandry Officer Kupwara Dr Ishrat said, "Although there are slaughterhouses in Kupwara, they are currently non-operational. If these slaughterhouses are made functional, the department will deploy doctors there to ensure necessary interventions. Similarly, if the slaughterhouse in Handwara becomes operational, doctors can be deputed on a rotational basis there," he said.
In response to a question about the quality of meat being sold in the market, he said, "We do not know whether animals slaughtered by butchers at their homes are healthy and fit for consumption. It would be a positive development if these slaughterhouses become operational, as our doctors would then be able to monitor the health of animals and oversee the pre- and post-slaughter processes scientifically," he said.
“Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Shrikant Balasaheb Suse few days back presided a meeting of all concerned departments during which he passed on orders to make the slaughterhouses functional," he added. He said that similarly in rural areas Assistant Veterinary Officials can maintain the checks and balances with regard to slaughtering of animals so that best quality of meat reaches to customers.
