Electricity Dispute: 160 apple trees chopped off in Budgam

BUDGAM — Unknown miscreants chopped off over 160 apple trees in the middle of the night in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, sending shock waves among orchardists of the district.

Police sources said that an orchardist identified as Ghulam Qadir Bhat son of Ali Muhammad, a resident of Lassipora virtually tried to end his life after he found his 160 apple trees flatly lying on ground.

The incident sent shock waves among people who demanded stern punishment for culprits. “Hang them in broad daylight who are responsible for this dastardly act,” locals said.

“I don’t know who has done it. Whosoever has done it is a culprit and God will never forgive him. Over 160 apple trees have been cut by unknown men. I am finished,” victim said.

A couple of locals said that there is tussle over power supply going on between the villagers of Churmujroo and Lassipora. A couple of days back people of Lassipora uprooted few electric poles and took away the electric HT wire that was going towards Churmujroo when a PDD team tried to visit the area.

Village Charmajroo is without electricity since November 2019. Few villages including Lassipora object to the move of PDD and stop it from providing electricity supply to Charmajroo from Receiving Station Watheril.

They said, on the condition of anonymity, that the orchardist Ghulam Qadir Bhat whose apple trees were chopped off is from Lassipora, but he was supporting the cause of Churmujroo people.

“May be, some people didn’t like his actions and were hurt. They may be feeling that despite being a resident of Lassipora, he is supporting Churmujroo. This may be the reason behind this chopping off incident,” they said.

Police have already lodged a couple of FIR’s against the unknown goons of Lassipora for assaulting a PDD team and even damaging their official vehicle. “Now again we have registered a case with regard to the chopping off incident. Stern action will be taken against culprits who cut down these trees,” Station House Officer, Budgam Police Station, Nazir Ahmed said.

He said a police party had gone to Lassipora village but they couldn’t find any male member in any house. “We won’t spare those who did it. They will face music under law,” he said.