Srinagar, July 3: In a major relief for consumers and traders, the Kashmir Mutton Dealers Association (KMDA) has called off the Kashmir livestock dealers’ strike after the Punjab Government reportedly directed the Punjab Police to allow the smooth movement of livestock vehicles and resume operations at livestock mandis. KMDA General Secretary Mehraj-ud-Din said the association received assurances that sheep-laden vehicles will no longer be stopped at checkpoints, although formal written orders are still awaited before reviewing the implementation on the ground. The strike had disrupted the sheep supply to Kashmir from Punjab, triggering fears of a mutton shortage in Kashmir, especially during the ongoing wedding season, when demand for mutton remains high across the Valley. With the strike now withdrawn, traders are hopeful that the livestock supply to Jammu and Kashmir will return to normal in the coming days, stabilising the Kashmir mutton market and easing concerns among consumers. The issue had also prompted the intervention of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who raised the matter with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, describing the restrictions on J&K livestock traders as unjustified. The development is expected to bring relief to the Kashmir meat trade, mutton dealers, transporters, restaurants, caterers, and thousands of families dependent on the livestock business across the region.
Leave a Reply