In yet another attack on the livelihood of Kashmiris, unidentified men in plainclothes — believed to be Indian troops or their backed elements — chopped down several apple trees in Siligam Dangerpora area of south Kashmir’s Islamabad district, causing immense economic loss to the orchard owners.
The incident occurred during the night when the unidentified persons entered the orchard and felled a number of apple trees that were ready for harvest. The affected family discovered the destruction early Wednesday morning.
“We were devastated to see our years of labour destroyed overnight,” said one of the orchard owners. “This was not random vandalism — it was a deliberate attempt to ruin us financially. Our apples were our only means of survival.”
Residents expressed deep resentment over the authorities’ indifference, saying that such acts are aimed at crippling Kashmir’s economy and punishing ordinary people for their resilience. They demanded that the incident be treated as a serious crime rather than a petty act of mischief.
Police claimed to have launched an investigation, though locals expressed skepticism, citing previous cases that yielded no results.
In the past, Indian troops and their backed gangs have been involved in similar acts of sabotage — chopping apple trees, burning orchards, and destroying crops — as part of a broader campaign to weaken Kashmir’s economic backbone and break the will of its people.
