Harvest Set Ablaze in North Kashmir, Farmers Left Devastated

by Rayees Shah

SRINAGAR: Panic and grief gripped Shilvat area of Sonawari in Bandipora after unknown persons allegedly set fire to heaps of harvested paddy late on Wednesday night, destroying the annual yield of several families.

The incident occurred around 11 pm when the harvested crop, gathered from nearly 18 kanals of land, was reduced to ashes within minutes. Villagers said they discovered the fire during Fajr prayers, finding that months of hard labour had been consumed overnight.

At least five families were affected, including those of Bashir Ahmad Dar, Nisar Ahmad Dar, and Ghulam Hassan Dar. Farmers said the loss had left them without their only means of survival. “We spent our days under the sun and our nights worrying about this crop. It was our only source of survival, and now everything is gone,” one farmer said.

Bashir Ahmad, one of the victims, said his family was already in mourning after the recent death of his father. “We had just suffered a personal loss, and now our livelihood has been taken away too,” he said.

Former legislator Yasir Reshi condemned the incident, calling it an assault on the lives of farming families. He appealed to the Deputy Commissioner of Bandipora to provide immediate compensation and urged the police to bring those responsible to justice. “This is not just about burnt fields; it is about livelihoods destroyed. These farmers are in tears today, and their cries must be heard,” he said.

Police confirmed the incident, stating that a case has been registered and an investigation has been launched to identify the culprits.