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<p data-start="99" data-end="344"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a heartbreaking incident from Jammu and Kashmir&rsquo;s Shopian district, thieves stole over 400 high-density apple trees from the orchard of a physically challenged farmer, Sajad Ahmad, in Landoora village&mdash;just 5 km from the district headquarters.</span></p>
<p data-start="346" data-end="673"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sajad, who has been confined to a wheelchair following a spinal cord injury in a road accident, had taken a bank loan and invested over ₹1.3 lakh to set up the orchard. &ldquo;I had pinned all my hopes on this orchard. I don&rsquo;t understand how I will provide for my family now. All my hopes are gone,&rdquo; he said, devastated by the theft.</span></p>
<p data-start="675" data-end="934"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">This incident is the latest in a growing trend of high-density apple tree thefts across South Kashmir. These trees, prized for their early fruit yield and easy maintenance, cost between ₹200 to ₹400 per plant and have become highly sought after in the Valley.</span></p>
<p data-start="936" data-end="1101"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. The local community is outraged, demanding increased security and the arrest of those behind the thefts.</span></p>
<p data-start="1103" data-end="1342"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Earlier this year, similar incidents were reported. On May 25, hundreds of apple trees were stolen from an orchard in Nikloora, Pulwama, and on February 14, about 14,000 rootstock plants were stolen from a nursery in Renzipora, Awantipora.</span></p>
<p data-start="1344" data-end="1556" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">These repeated incidents have triggered fear and frustration among fruit growers, especially those who have made significant financial investments in Kashmir&rsquo;s rapidly expanding high-density apple farming sector.</span><br><br><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.</span></p>
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Thieves stole over 400 high-density apple trees

Physically challenged farmer loses orchard to theft in Kashmir; locals demand strong action from police

Thieves Steal 400 Apple Trees in J&K's Shopian

Physically challenged farmer loses orchard to theft in Kashmir; locals demand strong action from police

June 13, 2025 | 12:40 IST