Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Aug 8: Kashmir’s chief religious leader, Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq on Friday expressed deep concern over the seizure of over 3,500 kilograms of rotten and unlabelled meat across Kashmir, calling it a serious betrayal of public trust. He demanded accountability and food safety reforms.
Delivering his sermon at Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid, Mirwaiz, questioned how such large-scale malpractice went unchecked and criticised the administration’s failure to act sooner.
“This is not just a legal violation; it is a moral and religious breach,” he said.
He urged the government to ensure proper labelling, cold storage details and halal certification for all packed meat sold in markets, while demanding that those responsible be strictly punished under the law.
Mirwaiz raised concerns over the nature of the seized meat, saying doubts were being raised about whether it was even permissible for consumption under Islamic law.
Calling the incident a “reflection of deeper ethical decay”, he urged society to introspect, while appreciating citizens who helped expose the scandal.
Earlier, on Thursday, officials said that during the past few days, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) seized and destroyed over 35 quintals (3,500 kg) of decomposed and unlabelled meat across Kashmir. The seized consignments, as per officials, were either being transported or stored without proper labelling or cold-chain logistics.
“The meat was in a decomposed condition, packed without any identification or temperature control. In many cases, we could not even open the packages due to the foul smell,” Smita Sethi, Commissioner, FDA Kashmir, had said.
