Bandipora, 02 Jun:- In a shocking incident, unknown miscreants have chopped down dozens of apple trees in orchards located in the Gund Jahangir Hajin village of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, leaving local farmers devastated.
Mohammad Abdullah Sheikh, one of the affected orchard owners, expressed deep anguish over the incident. “I felt completely devastated when I was informed that someone had cut down my apple trees. Around 50 trees from my orchard alone have been destroyed,” he said, struggling to hold back tears. He added that the damage affects orchards belonging to around 20 different owners in the village.
Abdullah Sheikh also extended his gratitude to the authorities, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Tehsildar, Station House Officer (SHO) Hajin, and the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) for their swift response and cooperation.
Police have already visited the site and launched an investigation. Sheikh has appealed to law enforcement to take strict action against the culprits to ensure such incidents are not repeated in the future.
Another effected Owner Abdul Salam parray said that the apple orchards are their only source of livelihood. “20 families are dependent on these trees and the chopping down of the trees has created tremendous panic among the locals,” he added.
Locals have appealed to the higher ups to find the culprits and compensate for the losses they have suffered.
Meanwhile, the police have taken cognizance of the matter and further investigation is underway.
