Rotten meat scandal chokes South Kashmir’s Café boom

Pulwama, Aug 17: South Kashmir’s post-COVID café and restaurant boom has hit a sudden roadblock after authorities seized hundreds of kilograms of rotten meat in recent raids, sparking public outrage and a steep decline in diners.

Over the past two weeks, officials have carried out a series of crackdowns across Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag, confiscating spoiled meat and triggering widespread alarm over food safety. The fallout has been swift—customers are avoiding eateries, and restaurant owners report an unprecedented slump in business.

“We had seen a real boom in cafés and restaurants after COVID restrictions eased, but this incident has shaken people’s confidence,” said a Pulwama café operator.

Parvez Ahmad, who runs a restaurant in the town, told Greater Kashmir that footfall has dropped by nearly 70–80 percent. “It is for the first time since COVID that business has taken such a hit,” he said.

The fear is not confined to Pulwama. In Shopian and Kulgam, once-bustling food joints are facing empty tables. “People have lost trust. Even though our food is fresh and hygienic, customers are hesitant to step in. Business has dropped to less than half in just two weeks,” said Mukhtar Gulzar, owner of Shopian’s Royal Plate.

Still, some restaurateurs welcomed the crackdown. “Strict checks are necessary. In the long run, this will help restore confidence,” Gulzar added.

For now, the consumer mood remains grim. “I don’t even feel safe eating at my college canteen, let alone a local restaurant,” said Zaid Ahmad, a university student from Shopian, who was once a regular at food joints.

According to restaurateurs, meat vendors have borne the brunt of the crackdown. “The restaurant business has suffered, but vendors have lost the most,” said a Kulgam eatery owner.

Business owners stressed that regular inspections are the only way forward. “Those flouting norms must be punished, but genuine businesses shouldn’t carry the stigma,” said a Pulwama restaurateur.

Once a symbol of urban revival after COVID, south Kashmir’s café culture now finds itself battling not just competition, but a crisis of trust.