Drug haul used for milk adulteration seized in Uttar Pradesh
By ANITuesday, July 20, 2010
KANPUR/ BIJNOR - A large consignment of the banned oxytocin drug, used for milk adulteration, has been seized during police raids carried out in Kanpur and Bijnor cities of Uttar Pradesh following a number of complaints.
Police have arrested a person in this connection.
On Tuesday, police raided a dairy in Kanpur and seized large quantity of the drug.
The raids were carried out following a number of complaints received by the local administration. It was informed that some dairy owners were injecting cows and buffaloes with the toxic drug to enhance milk production.
“In dairies, people are injecting animals with oxytocin to produce large quantity of milk. Eight teams have been set up to conduct raids at various places in the city, and to check milk adulteration. The teams are checking whether they (milkmen) are using oxytocin for large milk production, or whether milk is being mixed with detergent, or urea, or sugar to adulterate it,” said Prahlad Singh, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Kanpur city.
Meanwhile, a dealer of the drug was also arrested in Bijnor city.
People inject cattle with the oxytocin hormone to enhance milk production, and plant roots as well, to get more yield. Vegetables or milk containing the hormone, when consumed, can lead to deformities and cancer.
Previously oxytocin was used in India to increase milk production in animals, but the practice was banned by the Government after its side-effects, were discovered. (ANI)
