3 meat shops selling stale chicken raided

LUDHIANA: A team of Municipal Corporation officials on Friday raided three chicken and meat shops in Tibba Road, after finding them selling stale meat, raising serious doubts about the hygiene being maintained in meat shops of the city.

Youth Akali Dal (YAD) leader Paramjit Singh Pamma, who had lodged a complaint into the matter, said that about one-and-a-half years ago, they had written a letter to the civil surgeon, informing him about stale meat being sold in unhygienic conditions in the city, but the latter did not take any action. He added that later, they had written to the health minister and the municipal corporation, but still no action was taken.

Pamma said it was only after they had threatened to kill themselves if no action was taken in the matter, that a team of MC’s Tehbazari wing led by Ashwani Sahota reached the area and raided three meat and chicken shops. He added that seeing the gathering, the team had to act and destroy around 250kg of stale chicken, some pieces of which had worms inside.

Pamma added that after great persistence, MC officials — who he alleged were in a nexus with meat and chicken shops — challaned two shops (Bihari Chicken and Chabra Meat Shop), but did not act against the third shop. He alleged that the stale meat kept by shop owners for two months, was supplied to hotels and restaurants.

Municipal commissioner Kamalpreet Brar confirmed MC team’s action in the area. Officials of MC and civil surgeon’s office refuted allegations of inaction and nexus with meat and chicken owners.