In a shocking revelation that raises serious questions about alleged criminal callousness in the livestock industry and food supply monitoring system, 119 dead poultry birds were discovered in a truckload of chickens just hours after the Animal Husbandry Department had issued a certificate declaring all 2,700 birds alive and healthy.
The incident was brought to light by an animal rights group on Sunday afternoon.
The truck carrying the suspicious consignment of chickens had been given the green signal by the Animal Husbandry Department’s Livestock Check Post and Quarantine Centre at Zig-Lower Munda, Qazigund, Anantnag.
The certificate — a copy of which is in possession of Greater Kashmir and signed by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon at the Check Post — states that the inspected stock of 2,700 birds was “healthy.”
It further mentions that no dead or sick birds were found during inspection.
According to the certificate, after the inspection, the department “allowed 2,700 healthy birds to be transported into Kashmir, showing no apparent symptoms of any contagious disease.”
Yet, a few hours later, Animal Rescue Kashmir (ARK), an animal rights organisation, incidentally discovered the truck being unloaded suspiciously on the Aluchi Bagh Bund.
“When we asked about the sick birds, they denied it and showed us the certificate issued by Animal Husbandry. Then we inspected the truck and found so many dead birds,” ARK Director Dawood Muhammad said.
He said he alerted the Food Safety Department and also contacted the Animal Husbandry Department, seeking intervention regarding the dead poultry stock being transported.
Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Dar, in-charge of the check post and Liver Flu Officer, Kashmir, said that when the department inspected the stock, there was “no mortality.”
He said the consignment was meant for Pulwama, but the dealer there “refused” to take the stock.
“The truck was then sent to Batamaloo, Srinagar, from Pulwama, and the unloading was delayed by a few hours, which could have caused the mortality,” Dr. Dar said. “It is but natural.”
Later, he added, the truck carrying the dead birds was apprehended on its way back at Qazigund, and samples were taken for postmortem.
“Apparently, the birds died of starvation and hypothermia,” Dr. Dar said.
Suspicions grew after closer scrutiny of the certificate issued by the Animal Husbandry Department.
The consignment was without a receipt, and nothing is known about the origin of the poultry birds.
Only ‘Punjab’ is mentioned.
As per the recent directives of the Food Safety Department, J&K, all high-risk consignments, including poultry, must carry mandatory traceability markers, including batch and lot numbers linked to the originating farm and veterinary health certificates.
