Kolkata: The West Bengal government sleuths are probing into allegations of rotten meat from dumping grounds being supplied to eateries, departmental stores in West Bengal as well as neighbouring states of Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar.
Taking action into the allegations, the government has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the allegations, said a senior official on Monday.
The Government had earlier confiscated 20 tonnes of rotten meat believed to be from dead animals sourced from the dumping grounds which was meant for supplying purpose.
The team so far arrested 10 people including a political leader in connection with the case.
The state enforcement branch has also initiated a probe into the matter.
SP Koteshwar Rao (Diamond Harbour) said several teams have been deployed in Kolkata and outside West Bengal to apprehend the culprits involved in the business of selling dead animals meat to the public.
“We are conducting raids to get hold of the culprits involved in the incident. Officers all over the district have been alerted to keep a tab on those who are involved in selling meat of dead animals,” Rao said.
He told the media that the police suspect five influential culprits who might have acted as middlemen in this business.
“These individuals are scattered in different parts of the state including others in the neighbouring states. We are trying to establish the chain. The racket seems to be quite an organised one,” the SP added.
Meanwhile, the Consumer Affairs Minister Sadhan Pandey said, “We are chalking out a detailed report on this matter. Once it is complete, we will submit it to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.”
The officials also added the government has issued directives to all the Police stations to keep a strict vigil on areas which sell meat.