Vandalism at Tulip Excellence Centre in Kokernag sparks outrage

April 4, 2025 by News Desk

Sheikh Nadeem

Unidentified miscreants vandalized a public park in Soyan Sagam area of Kokernag during the night, causing significant damage to the tulip beds at the SKUAST’s Centre for Excellence of Tulip Buds, officials said on Thursday.

The attack has left locals and horticulture experts dismayed, especially given the park’s importance as a developing hub for tulip cultivation and tourism in south Kashmir.

“This place was turning into something beautiful for our children and the community. We don’t understand why anyone would want to ruin it,” Bashir Ahmad Dar, a local resident told The Kashmiriyat.

The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) had recently developed the tulip centre in an effort to promote research and local floriculture. The damage, mostly to the tulip buds, is said to be extensive, though officials are still assessing the exact loss.

“We were hoping to attract both students and tourists here this season. This act of vandalism is not just a crime against property, but against the vision of a greener, more vibrant Kashmir,” said an official associated with the project, requesting anonymity.

Police have registered a case and said that an investigation has been launched to identify those behind the act.

Locals have urged authorities to increase night-time security in the area and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.