Srinagar, Aug. 11 -- From the outskirts of Srinagar to small towns in south and north Kashmir, Food Safety Department teams have found and destroyed thousands of kilograms of decayed meat. Raids have revealed supplies imported from outside the state, stripped of labels, and destined for kebab joints, wazwan caterers, and everyday restaurants. The findings are grotesque: traders trying to dump contaminated meat into courtyards to evade seizure, consignments rotting in thermocol boxes, and even road-side piles of animal remains.

The economic fallout has been swift. Srinagar's once-bustling restaurants now see empty chairs where lunch crowds once gathered. Owners insist their meat is fresh, but fear has taken root. Street vendors who sold 7...