Frozen meat mafia in Jammu & Kashmir: A public health time bomb authorities dare not ignore
Ch. Rashid Azam Inqlabi
In the pristine valleys of Jammu & Kashmir, where food traditions are rooted in trust, authenticity, and freshness, an unsettling crisis is unfolding. Over recent months, massive consignments of expired, adulterated, and suspicious frozen meat have been seized from markets across the Union Territory – shaking public confidence to the core.
I recall my tenure as Director, Food and Civil Supplies, Jammu, when, under the instructions of the Minister, we conducted special market inspections to ensure that no one exploited the public. Prices were fixed quarterly, and we kept a strict watch on vegetables and milk products. News of such a frozen meat scandal in those days would have prompted immediate and sweeping action. Now, even a simple meal in a hotel raises suspicion.
In Srinagar, over 3,500 kilograms of adulterated meat have been destroyed in recent weeks. In Jammu, a staggering 27 quintals (2,700 kilograms) of rotten fish and chicken were seized in a single day during a joint raid by the Legal Metrology Department (LMD) and the Food Safety Department. These are only the cases that were caught – the real scale may be far greater.
During routine pre-festival inspections, enforcement teams targeted Jammu’s fish and chicken markets. The aim was clear: ensure that frozen products, especially those imported from outside J&K, were properly stored, labelled, and priced in compliance with the law.
What they found was alarming.
“A total of 27 quintals of rotten and spoiled frozen fish and chicken were seized,” Manoj Prabhakar, Deputy Controller, LMD (Enforcement).
Three cases under the Legal Metrology Act were registered. The products were found in unhygienic conditions, in violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act. Legal action included challans under Section 56, improvement notices under Section 32, and destruction of the seized stock at the Kotbhalwal dumping station under the supervision of the Jammu Municipal Corporation.
If 27 quintals were caught in a single raid, how much more has quietly entered the food chain?
In Kashmir, the crisis has been equally grave. Over the past week alone, 3,500 kilograms of adulterated meat were destroyed following consumer complaints about foul odours, unusual textures, and suspiciously low prices in markets and restaurants.
Investigations point toward a network of frozen meat suppliers importing stock from outside J&K, often of unverified origin. Speculation includes meat from animals unfit for consumption, expired consignments, or even banned species. Yet, there has been no comprehensive statement from higher authorities on the full extent of the problem.
An Economic Sabotage Against Local Farmers
Kashmir’s meat economy was once sustained by local herders and traders who supplied fresh, naturally raised animals. The influx of cheap, suspicious frozen meat has:
Undercut local farmers who cannot match artificially low prices
Eroded consumer trust in butchers
Slashed restaurant meat orders by up to 90%
This is not just a food safety issue – it is an assault on a centuries-old economic ecosystem.
The Silent Watchdogs
The greatest concern is official silence.
Why has the source of this meat not been identified and disclosed?
Where are the lab test results?
Why are only small shopkeepers targeted while the larger network remains untouched?
Public health experts warn that frozen meat of unknown origin can harbour deadly pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and even viruses transmissible to humans. Without transparency, consumers are left in the dark.
Legal Powers, Unused
The Food Safety and Standards Act allows for heavy fines, licence cancellations, and imprisonment. The Public Safety Act (PSA) permits detention without trial for up to a year for threats to public health.
Yet, despite repeated seizures, no major suppliers have been arrested. Action has largely stopped at the retail level – leaving the masterminds untouched.
Public Anger Is Rising
In both Srinagar and Jammu, public sentiment is turning to distrust and fear.
“Meat was always part of our festivals and hospitality. Now we are scared to serve it to guests,” says Zahoor Lone, a Srinagar shopkeeper.
Parents like Ram Singh in Jammu have stopped buying meat altogether: “It’s not worth the risk. We don’t know what animal this is, or how long it’s been stored.”
Social media is flooded with raid videos, photos of heaps of dumped meat, and demands for stronger action.
The Way Forward
To restore public trust and safeguard health and livelihoods, authorities must act urgently:
- Trace the Source – Identify and publicly disclose the origins of seized meat.
- Crack Down on the Supply Chain – Target importers and wholesalers, not just retailers.
- Mandatory Lab Testing – Test every batch before it enters the market.
- Public Transparency – Publish test results and enforcement updates online.
- Support Local Farmers – Subsidise and promote genuine local producers. Give fair rates to tribal communities for their sheep and goats. Meat from Bakerwali goats or sheep is especially beneficial, as these animals graze on medicinal plants at higher altitudes. Even dairy products from such regions carry special qualities due to the medicinal value of local flora.
- Swift Legal Action – Apply the PSA and other strict laws against offenders.
A Trust Broken, A Tradition Threatened
This frozen meat scandal is not just a regulatory failure – it is a betrayal of public trust, an economic assault, and a health emergency.
In Jammu & Kashmir, where hospitality is a sacred tradition, the thought that such a custom could be poisoned by greed and negligence is heartbreaking. Continued silence from the authorities will only deepen suspicion and irreparably damage public faith in both the food industry and governance.
The people of Jammu & Kashmir deserve safe food, honest markets, and accountable leadership. Anything less is unacceptable.
The scandal is here. The damage is real. The only question is – will those in power act before it’s too late?
(The author is a former Deputy Commissioner and a practising Advocate at the High Court at Jammu)
