Case filed after miscreants cut down 350 apple trees in Anantnag

ANANTNAG — From past couple of days, miscreants are chopping down high-breed apple trees in south Kashmir’s Anantnag village, prompting police to lodge an FIR against unidentified persons.

People of Mehand and Hati villages are worried sick and are on pins and needles to apprehend these miscreants. “Over 350 apple trees were damaged from past couple of days in two incidents. In first incident, some trees had been cut down in Mehand and its adjoining Hati villages. We took it lightly but again couple of days later over 350 trees were damaged and that shocked all,” said locals.

“Police asked us to identify the suspects but how can we name anyone when we don’t know anything about them,” they said.

Mehand village in Srigufwara area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district is the strong bastion of banned socio-religious political party Jamaat-e-Islami.

The victims who lost their apple trees are Abdul Rahim Rather, Abdul Rashid Rather, Abdul Rahim Bhat, Ghulam Muhammad Dar, Abdul Aziz Wagay and Muhammad Anwar Sofi.

“We are deeply perturbed. We can’t even guard our orchards during night hours due to prevailing situation,” the victims said.

A top police official said that investigation has been set into motion while a formal FIR vide number 38/20 stands registered at Police Station Srigufwara in this regard.