Thieves steal 450 trees in Shopian, return them after farmer's emotional plea

June 13, 2025 by News Desk

In an unusual turn of events, nearly 450 hybrid apple saplings stolen from an orchard in Landoora village of Shopian district were returned two days after the incident, following the circulation of a video showing the affected farmer appealing for help.

The saplings, valued in lakhs of rupees, were uprooted and taken away during the night by unidentified persons. The orchard belongs to a specially-abled farmer who said it was his only source of livelihood.

The theft had sparked concern across the Valley after a video of the farmer, visibly distressed, was widely shared on social media platforms.

According to local residents, the saplings were returned during the night and were found placed back in the field early in the morning.

The farmer confirmed that the same trees had been brought back. No damage was reported to the returned saplings.

“It appears the culprits returned the trees quietly, possibly in response to the public reaction,” a police official said. Authorities said they are continuing their investigation to identify those involved in the theft.

Residents of the village said the community response and online attention may have influenced the decision to return the saplings.