Why J&K Apple Biznowa Major Terror Target

Rising attacks on traders hitting at core of Kashmir’s economy, Centre to set up secure fruit parks, anti-terror ops will intensify

- Ashraf Wani

Oct 17: A truck laden with apples was set on fire in Srinagar by a group of terrorists.

Oct 16: Terrorists attacked two Punjab apple traders in Shopian, killing one of them.

Oct 14: A Rajasthan man was shot dead by terrorists when he was readying to load apple boxes on a truck in Shopian.

Sept 12: Terrorists burnt a huge pile of Kashmir's famous golden apple variety in an orchard in Shopian.

These look like usual terror attacks. But behind them is a message to apple traders and transporters to stay off. It’s a sinister design to terrorise farmers and hit at the backbone of Kashmir’s economy. And already, prices are falling and apples are rotting in some places.

The trade is a major job creator in the Valley with 3.5 million people involved.

Kashmir produces about 20 lakh metric tons of apples annually and contributes 10 per cent to the local economy.