Mutton Hunger
Khalid Bashir Gura
Mutton wholesalers and Retailers Association on Wednesday organised a protest at press enclave Srinagar against the new mutton rates fixed by the government. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
Soon after finishing morning prayers, Suhail Ahmad, an Anantnag resident, travels to nearby districts in his car in search of mutton for his sister who recently delivered a baby. He buys it at Rs 600, a kilogram from various butchers who work in the early morning hours.
Since November 2020, the mutton dealers and administration are at loggerheads over mutton prices. Last year, the divisional administration proposed Rs 480 for mutton per kilogram which the dealers did not agree citing that they cannot afford to sell at “such low rate,” resulting in the shutting down of mutton shops and severe mutton shortage across Kashmir.