Kolkata, May 1: Panic has struck the state capital and other parts of West Bengal after reports said meat of dead dogs, cats and other carcass have made their way to the eateries. Over the weekend, the sale of non-veg food items dipped to half at most joints, said the Hotel and Restaurants Association of Eastern India (HRAEI).

The HRAEI has demanded the government to immediately intervene in the matter, in order to instill confidence among their consumers. The restaurant owners' body has also appealed its members to procure meat only from registered sellers, rather than roadside suppliers.

The Kolkata Police has swung into action, raiding various meat supplier units across the city. At least 10 suspects have been arrested after being found with rotten meat.

Police claim the dead meat is being collected from the dumpyards, and is immediately sent for processing. The processed meat is then sold at below the market price prevailing for genuine mutton and chicken.

Senior inspector Koteswara Rao, while speaking to reporters, said a carcass meat racket is flourishing in the city. Their operators have kept informers who alert them whenever a carcass is being thrown at the dumpyard, he said.

The first such racket was unearthed in Newtown of North 24 Parganas district on April 19. Subsequently, a cold storage in the Rajabazar-Narkeldanga area of Kolkata was raided last Friday, where 20 tonnes of rotten meat were seized.

On Saturday, the owner of a wholesale chicken outlet in Lake Town area of Kolkata escaped after the police officials raided his shop. Tonnes of rotten meat was recovered from the freezers.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation, reports said, is planning to address the issue right at its source. In order to prevent the misuse of animal carcass, incinerators are likely to be installed at the dumpyards.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 01, 2018 04:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).