Police, Food Safety Deptt conduct joint raids

Srinagar, Aug 11: In a major development aimed at safeguarding public health, Police in Srinagar registered a formal case against individuals allegedly involved in a large-scale criminal conspiracy to supply decomposed and unfit meat across the city.

The action follows a series of coordinated raids conducted jointly by the Police in Srinagar and the Food Safety Department, targeting vendors and suppliers suspected of selling expired and unhygienic meat products.

The case, registered as FIR No 48/2025 at Police Station Zakura, invokes Sections 271, 275, and 61(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the laws pertaining to the adulteration of food and the spread of infectious disease through negligence.

This marks a significant escalation in the city’s ongoing crackdown on food safety violations.

Acting on credible intelligence, authorities identified Abdul Hameed Kuchay of Soura as a primary suspect.

Kuchay is the operator of Sunshine Foods, located at SICOP Zakura.

Investigations revealed his alleged involvement in a conspiracy with Arif Ahmad Shah of Baghat Barzulla to distribute decomposed meat on a large scale.

The spoiled meat was reportedly being supplied to restaurants and hotels across Srinagar, potentially endangering thousands of unsuspecting consumers.

“This is not just a case of negligence but a deliberate and organised criminal act that directly threatens public health,” a Police spokesman said. “The nature of the offence is grave, and we are treating it with utmost seriousness.”

The FIR follows a broader enforcement drive in which Police in Srinagar, in collaboration with the Food Safety Department and officials from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), raided multiple locations across the city.

In one major action, a cold storage facility in Parimpora was raided, where large quantities of rotten meat were found stored.

The contaminated meat was seized and destroyed on-site, and the cold storage facility was sealed under relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Officials confirmed that such enforcement drives will intensify in the coming days to ensure strict compliance with food safety laws and hold violators accountable.

The joint operation underscores the administration’s commitment to protecting citizens from health hazards posed by unsafe food practices.

The authorities emphasised that the case registered under the BNS is just the beginning of what is expected to be a wider probe into the supply chain of contaminated meat products in the region.

As the investigation under FIR No 48/2025 progresses, Police are expected to make further arrests and uncover additional links in the illegal supply network.

Police in Srinagar have also issued a stern warning to all food vendors, suppliers, and cold storage operators, urging strict adherence to hygiene and safety standards.

“Routine inspections and legal action will continue in coordination with all relevant departments. No one found violating food safety norms will be spared,” the Police spokesman said.

People have been encouraged to report any suspicious activity related to food supply and hygiene, as authorities aim to dismantle such dangerous networks and restore confidence in the city’s food safety mechanisms.