Meer Irfan
In a disturbing incident in the Ayend village of Shopian district, south Kashmir, unknown persons have vandalized hundreds of apple trees, causing substantial financial damage.
Local residents speaking to The Kashmiriyat said that they discovered the destruction early Wednesday morning when they saw the high density apple orchard severely damaged with numerous trees felled.
The affected orchard, which had been under cultivation for the past three years and was finally set to be harvested, was left in ruin.
The orchard owner, Mohammed Shafi Bhat son of Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, who had secured a bank loan to establish the garden and is still repaying the debt, expressed deep frustration. “It is disheartening to see such incidents becoming more frequent in Kashmir,” a local resident lamented.
The damage has been estimated to be in the lakhs of rupees, underscoring the severe financial impact on the affected family.
An FIR has been lodged under the appropriate sections of the law, and an initial investigation has been initiated.
In response to the incident, a team has been dispatched to the crime scene by SSP Shopian for a preliminary inspection.
The SSP emphasized, “The criminals will be arrested soon, and the victim will be ensured justice.”