Srinagar, Aug. 2 -- The General Secretary of the J&K Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association, Mehraj U Din Ganie, said that for over 10 days, his union had raised the issue of extortion and supply disruption with officials at various levels, including the Chief Minister, ministers, and the Commissioner and Director of the Animal Husbandry Department (CIPD).

He said the supply of livestock was halted due to ongoing issues at the Punjab border, where payments were being demanded in the name of cattle fair taxes, even from vehicles in transit from other states.

Ganie said the matter was critical as it disrupted supplies during the peak wedding season in the Kashmir valley. Despite increasing pressure from consumers and families affected by th...