Kashmir’s meat supply is set to face a major shortage after the Mutton Dealers Association of Kashmir announced it would stop transporting live animals from other states. The association said they were forced to take this step because of what they described as daily extortion, harassment, and bribe demands at checkpoints in Punjab.
Mehrajuddin Ganai, the association’s General Secretary, explained the decision: “Our trucks are stopped at Shambu and Madhopur checkpoints in Punjab. Drivers are forced to pay bribes of up to Rs 15,000. Today, because of delays and the heat, more than 50 sheep died. We can’t bear these losses anymore.”
Ganai said they have repeatedly asked the government for help but have received no response.
“We are sorry to the people, especially those preparing for weddings. This is not a strike; it’s a helpless decision,” he said.
The association has informed its suppliers in Rajasthan, Sikar, Firozpur, Delhi, and Ambala, all of whom supported the move.
“This is not just our problem. Everyone involved in the trade is suffering,” Ganai added.
He urged Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to send a team to Punjab to see the situation firsthand.
“We are ready to share all documents and details. But action must be taken now,” he said.
Ganai recalled a similar crisis in 2016 when the issue was resolved after a minister visited Punjab. “Thousands of people depend on this trade. If nothing changes, we may have to stop supplies for an even longer period,” he warned.
The suspension will likely cause a sharp drop in meat availability in Kashmir, which depends heavily on livestock brought from northern states.
