ANANTNAG: Unknown persons axed over three dozen apple trees in the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday in Mehand area of Srigufwara in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, sending shock waves among orchardists in the district.
Witnessed told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that unidentified persons have axed three dozen apple trees at Mehand village during the night, causing huge loss to the orchardist. “This is worst than a murder,” said Abdul Rahim Bhat.
The apple orchards belong to Abdul Rahim Bhat, son of Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, Abdul Rahim Rathar, son of Abdul Samad and Abdul Rashid Rather, son of Fatha Mohammad Rather, all residents of village Mehand in Srigufwara.
The incident has sent shock waves among the people who demanded stern punishment against the culprits.
“We have registered a case under FIR number 38/2020 and investigation has been started to expose the culprits,” SHO Police Station Srigufwara said.