Srinagar, July 1 -- Kashmir's latest mutton shortage tells a larger story than rising food prices.

It exposes years of policy drift that have left an entire region dependent on livestock brought from outside its borders.

One disruption on a highway has now reached butcher shops, wedding halls and family kitchens, turning a cultural staple into a scarce commodity.

The immediate trigger came when mutton dealers suspended livestock imports, alleging that transporters passing through Punjab faced illegal collections and repeated stoppages despite holding valid transit permits.

Dealer associations say trucks entering the state have been forced to pay between Rs.10,000 and Rs.20,000, even though amended rules under the Punjab Cattle Fairs A...