50 days of Kashmir clampdown: Apple traders operate under terror threat, hope for restrictions to end

With virtually no business being transacted for 50 days, small-scale entrepreneurs and apple traders on Monday said they were desperately hoping for an end to the clampdown in the Kashmir Valley and are unable to cope with threats from terror groups.

The Valley, which was brought under a virtual curfew with communication networks snapped on August 5 after the government abrogated special status to Jammu and Kashmir, has seen little difference in the last seven weeks as public transport is still not available and schools waiting for students to collect assignments.

The apple trade, which is the lifeline of a majority of people in North Kashmir's Sopore and three districts of South Kashmir, has taken a hit. There is a shortfall of 30,000 tonnes till September.

The figures till mid-September in 2018 was 80,000 tonnes and this year, it is a little less than 50,000 tonnes, the officials said.

The reasons: Threats by terror groups, beating of orchard owners and burning down of trucks ferrying the fruit outside the Valley.

"We have been sending messages to the police but nothing is forthcoming on the ground, other than tall claims from top police officials in the media," a trader from militancy-infested Shopian district of South Kashmir said.

The trader, who did not wish to be identified, said he had managed to take his fruit to New Delhi during the night and earn around Rs 60,000.

"On my return, three militants approached me and gave me a choice. Either damaging my truck or getting ready to be shot in the leg. I had no option... It will take around Rs 1.5 lakh for me to refurbish the vehicle again," he said.

Showing the ready to plucked apples at his orchard, he said, "I am too scared now."