Miscreants axe fruit bearing apple trees in Pulwama village

Pulwama, May 16 : Miscreants have cut down many apple trees from the orchard of a resident at Puchal village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Manzoor Ahmad Mir, 57, son of Abdul Gani Mir, a resident of Qasimabad locality of Puchal village, told Rising Kashmir that some unknown persons have axed 27 fruit bearing apple trees from his orchard.
He said that one of his apple orchards spread on 30 marlas of land on Lajurah Karewa was growing around 30 trees.
“The trees were 15 years old and bearing around 250 boxes of apple,” he said, adding that some miscreants have cut down 27 fruit bearing trees causing him significant loss and mental agony.
He said that it was a couple of days ago that authorities from excise and allied departments started a drive for destroying standing plants of banned poppy crop in the area.
“I am lumberdar ( village level functionary appointed by administration) for Qasimabad and I was accompanying the authorities who were deputed for destroying the poppy cultivation,” he said.
He added that more than 100 kanals of land were under poppy cultivation in the area and the destruction drive angered many people.
“ I suspect that some unknown persons were annoyed with my association with the poppy destruction team,” he said, adding that the miscreants might have believed that it was Mir on whose invitation the poppy destruction was carried out in the area.
He said for this reasons some unknown persons axed his apple orchard on intervening night of 13 and 14 May, 2023.
“This has caused me a significant loss,” he said, adding that he has apprehensions that these miscreants may cause further damage to his property.
“I am feeling insecure so I request authorities to investigate this matter and punish the culprits,” he said.
Tehsildar Pulwama, Mohammad Iqbal told Rising Kashmir that they have taken a cognizance of the issue.
“We are writing to Deputy Commissioner Pulwama and Senior Superintendent of Police Pulwama in this regard, a legal action as warranted under law will be taken against those involved in it,” he said.