MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Muzaffarabad Police have arrested an accused for allegedly selling meat of dead chickens under fake branding labels, stating that more revelations are expected, it emerged on Thursday.
The action was taken on the complaint of Food Inspector, Nadeem Ahmed Mir, after which a case was registered against the accused Ehtesham Khan.
Sub-Inspector Shaheed-ur-Rehman and Investigation Officer Raja Zahid Azeem arrested the accused, and his bail application has also been rejected.
According to the details, Haroon-ul-Rashid, owner of Hafiz Frozen Center (HFC) Factory Lahore, reported the case of Food Inspector Municipal Corporation Muzaffarabad, Nadeem Ahmed Mir. The FIR was later registered on the complaint of the food inspector.
Police stated that the accused purchased products from the HFC factory, repackaged them, and sold them in Muzaffarabad and its surrounding areas. It further added that the accused has maintained a secret location in Lahore known as “Naveed Chicken Point,” from where he used to buy dead-chicken meat.
During the investigation, police learned that the accused sold dead and unhealthy chickens in envelopes carrying the monogram of HFC. The accused supplied low-quality and hazardous meat in the local market, which resulted in the spread of various diseases among citizens, the FIR stated.
Sources further said that Ehtesham obtained a fake food license in the name of HFC from the Food Authority in Muzaffarabad. Police also suspect that certain government officials and civil servants facilitated the illegal business.
In addition, the owner of the Lahore-based HFC allegedly suffered major financial losses due to embezzlement and misuse of products by the accused.
Officials have confirmed that the network appears to be extensive, and more arrests are expected in the coming days. The police say the investigation is actively underway and the real facts will soon come to light.
