‘Where’s the meat coming from?’: Handwara residents protest ‘low-grade’ mutton sale, accuse authorities of negligence

Handwara, Aug 20: Residents of Handwara town in north Kashmir have expressed serious concerns over the sale of “low-grade” mutton in their area, accusing the authorities of negligence.
Several locals spoke to Rising Kashmir, expressing their resentment towards the administration for allowing butchers to sell “low-grade” mutton without proper inspections.
Abdul Rashid, a resident of Handwara, said the town has two slaughterhouses, both of which have been locked for a long time. Questioning the authorities, he said, “Nobody knows where the livestock is being brought from or where it is being slaughtered. There is no proper check to determine if the meat is fit for consumption, and the administration is not inspecting the slaughter process.”
He added, “We only see the administration and the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) during the month of Ramadan; after that, no inspections are conducted at these shops. Aren’t people consuming mutton during the other eleven months?”
Another local, Bashir Ahmad, echoed similar concerns, highlighting the lack of mandatory health checks by veterinarians. “There is no doctor’s checkup, which is essential. We are being neglected, and our health is at risk,” he said.
Residents have also accused the Handwara Municipal Committee (MCH) of placing seals on mutton without ensuring its fitness for consumption. They are calling for regular inspections and strict enforcement of food safety regulations, particularly given the high volume of mutton purchased daily by hundreds of people in the town.
Under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), it is mandatory for all meat sold for public consumption to be inspected and certified by a qualified veterinarian to ensure it is free from disease and fit for human consumption.
The Act also mandates that slaughterhouses be registered and regularly inspected by food safety officers to maintain hygiene and safety standards. The residents of Handwara are urging the authorities to adhere to these regulations to safeguard public health.
Executive Officer of the Handwara Municipal Committee, Arshid Qadir, acknowledged the issue of the slaughterhouse in the town and stated that the former slaughterhouse has been handed over to another department. “We have already taken the matter up with the Director of Urban Local Bodies. If we can get the building back, we will renovate it and restart operations very soon,” he said.
Regarding the quality of the mutton, the officer said it was not within his jurisdiction. “This pertains to the Food Safety Department,” he said.