Srinagar, Oct 6: Amid growing public concern over adulterated and rotten meat being sold in Kashmir, Budgam Police have taken strict action against misinformation by registering a case against a local Facebook news portal.
The case targets the administrator of the page “Kashmir Speaks,” which on October 5 posted a sensational claim that a horse was butchered for meat and sold in local markets of Arizal, Budgam. The post quickly went viral, sparking fear and anger among residents already unsettled by the ongoing rotten meat scandal.
Police clarified that the incident in question actually occurred on August 26, 2025, when a horse was found dead in Rakhai village, Khansahib. FIR No. 165/2025 was registered at Police Station Khansahib under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Preliminary investigations concluded that the death resulted from a personal dispute and was unrelated to any illegal meat trade.
“The incident had no communal or commercial angle. Linking it to the recent rotten meat scandal is not only false but deliberately provocative,” police said.
Following the misleading social media post, FIR No. 187/2025 was filed under Section 353(2) of BNS for spreading misinformation with the potential to disrupt public peace.
The false claim comes at a time when public trust in food safety is already shaken. Over the past month, municipal and health authorities have conducted multiple crackdowns after reports of spoiled meat surfaced in both urban and rural markets. Several butchers and meat shop owners have been booked or fined, with food safety teams seizing large quantities of unfit meat.
Police warned that unverified claims can inflame public sentiment and lead to panic. “By falsely suggesting that horse meat was being passed off as mutton, the post deliberately exploited public fear,” officials said.
Authorities have urged citizens and digital media platforms to verify facts before publishing or forwarding content, especially on sensitive public health issues.
“Spreading unverified information during such times is not just irresponsible—it’s illegal. We are closely monitoring social media platforms and will take strict legal action against anyone found spreading fake news,” police added.
Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activities or information directly to local police stations instead of circulating unverified content on social media.
