KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
A herd of over 18 sheep have died while 82 have fallen sick after Sheep Husbandry officials allegedly administered expired vaccines to them in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
The cattle owner Ghulam Mohi ud Din Bhat from Aloosa Bandipora appeared in Press Enclave along with the dead sheep. He told CNS that in the last week of November two employees from Sheep Husbandry arrived at his house for vaccination purpose.
“They charged Rs 1090 after injecting a herd of 82 sheep. A day after the vaccination, the sheep fell sick and some of them died. I approached Sheep Husbandry office located at Ashtengu Bandipora but their approach was callous and they didn’t listen to me,” he alleged and claimed that till date out of 82 he has lost 18 sheep and rest are seriously ill.
The cattle owner alleged that the employees administered expired vaccines and when complained the head of the Sheep office namely Abdul Aziz reprimanded him and dragged him out from the office. “After receiving cold response from the Sheep Husbandry officials, I approached DC Bandipora who directed Sheep Department to investigate the matter,” he said adding that after feeling heat from the DC office, the officials called him for negotiation in the evening. “I didn’t go there instead visited Press Enclave to expose the ugly side of the department,” he said.
“I am afraid that rest of the sick animals may die too if not taken care of. Who will compensate me for the ‘blunder’ of the Sheep Husbandry employees,” he questioned.
When contacted Director Sheep Husbandry Kranti Kumar Sharma refuted the allegation that expired vaccines have been administered to sheep. He said, “there may be some other reasons for the death of these sheep.”
