Indian army, Hindutva nexus chop 400 apple trees overnight in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Indian army and Hindutva nexus are behind cutting of over 400 apple trees cut down overnight in Kulgam district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Hundreds of apple trees were allegedly cut down overnight in Kaharwat village of Kulgam district, leaving local growers devastated and facing significant economic losses.

Farmers said more than 400 trees in a private orchard were found damaged on Sunday morning, with trunks chopped and branches scattered across the land.

The scale of destruction has triggered concern among horticulturists in the area, who depend heavily on apple cultivation for their livelihood.

The incident, according to locals, occurred during the night, with unknown persons entering the orchard and vandalizing the trees.

The affected growers said that they had no immediate suspicion against anyone but described the act as deeply disturbing.

“This orchard used to produce around 80 crates of apples last year. Now everything is destroyed,” one of the affected growers said, pointing to the damaged trees.

The victims said the loss would have long-term consequences, as apple trees take years to mature and yield produce. They termed the act as an attack not only on an individual orchard but on the region’s horticulture sector.

The incident assumes significance as horticulture remains a primary source of income for many families in south Kashmir, with apple farming forming the backbone of the rural economy.

Police have taken cognizance of the matter and initiated an investigation to identify those involved.

The widespread damage has sparked concern across the village, with residents calling for swift identification of the culprits and measures to protect the horticulture sector from similar attacks. Monitoring Desk