Over 500 High-Density apple plants destroyed in Kulgam

Srinagar, Jun 14: In a shocking and deliberate act of vandalism, unidentified miscreants destroyed around 500 high-density apple plants in the Hatipora area of Behibagh in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, inflicting heavy financial losses estimated at more than Rs 25 lakh on a local orchard owner.

The incident, which has sent shock waves, targeted a well-established high-density apple orchard. High-density plantations are promoted as a modern, high-yield farming technique aimed at boosting productivity and improving the economic returns for growers in the Kashmir Valley. The affected grower had invested significant resources in setting up the orchard, making the destruction a severe blow to his livelihood.

According to preliminary information, the orchard owner discovered the extensive damage when he visited his plantation and found a large number of young apple plants deliberately cut down and uprooted. The scale of the vandalism — targeting nearly 500 plants — points to a targeted and malicious act.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kulgam, Anayat Ali Choudhary told Greater Kashmir that the police have taken serious cognisance of the matter. “We have registered an FIR No. 30/2026 at Police Station Behibagh under relevant sections of law and an investigation has been initiated to identify and apprehend the culprits,” the SSP said.

Local residents and fellow orchardists have strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a direct attack on horticulture economy, which forms the backbone of livelihood for thousands of families in south Kashmir. Many expressed fears that such acts could discourage farmers from adopting progressive, high-investment farming practices. “The owner had put in years of hard work and substantial capital into this high-density plantation. This is not just financial loss; it is heartbreaking to see someone’s dreams destroyed overnight,” said a local grower. Authorities have appealed to the public to come forward with any information that could help trace the perpetrators. Police teams are conducting searches in the area and examining possible motives, including personal enmity, rivalry, or anti-social elements. Meanwhile, locals have urged the district administration and horticulture department to provide immediate assistance to the affected family, including technical support for replanting and possible compensation to mitigate the losses.