Kolkata: SIT arrests head of carcass meat racket Biswanath Garai

The head of the meat racket involved in obtaining dead animals from dumping grounds and processing their flesh to further supply it to the markets was arrested from Garia in South 24 Parganas district by the SIT, the police said on Thursday.

Biswanath Garai of Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district, was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) from near the the Garia railway station on Wednesday evening, said Koteswara Rao, SP, Diamond Harbour police district.

A total of 11 persons in connection with the case have been arrested so far, including a leader of a political outfit.

Biswanath aka Bishu is the main accused. He is the owner of the godown in Narkeldanga area where the meat of dead animals were stored, Rao said to a leading press agency.

"Bishu was involved in collecting the meat and then processing it. He was then getting them supplied to different restaurants and markets," Rao said adding that the tough questioning to the accused was being done.

"We are also looking for how many years he was running this business and who all are helping him in getting orders," another SIT official, involved in the investigation, said.

The government had seized 20 tonnes of rotten meat last week, mainly of dead animals and sourced from dumping grounds that were being supplied to eateries and departmental stores in the state as well as neighbouring Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar.

A detailed report regarding the matter is also being prepared by the state consumer affairs. The West Bengal government has ordered all police stations in the city and districts to keep a tab on the sale of meat in their respective areas, officials said.