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

In a heartbreaking incident from Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district, thieves stole over 400 high-density apple trees from the orchard of a physically challenged farmer, Sajad Ahmad, in Landoora village—just 5 km from the district headquarters.

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. “I had pinned all my hopes on this orchard. I don’t understand how I will provide for my family now. All my hopes are gone,” he said, devastated by the theft.

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.

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.

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.

These repeated incidents have triggered fear and frustration among fruit growers, especially those who have made significant financial investments in Kashmir’s rapidly expanding high-density apple farming sector.

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.