J&K: 'Culprits of Shopian truck attack identified', says DGP Dilbagh

The Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbagh Singh on Saturday, October 26, said the police has identified the culprits in the Shopian incident, where two persons died while one was left injured when militants fired at trucks near Chitragam on October 24.

"Jammu and Kashmir's economy is dependent on horticulture and tourism. Militants with support from Pakistan want to damage both. It is an attack on the livelihood of people. We have identified the culprits and they will soon be brought to book", Singh said.

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Earlier on October 24, in yet another barbaric incident of terrorism, terrorists shot dead two non-local apple traders in South Kashmir's Shopian district. According to the sources, terrorists and their handlers across the Line of Control are frustrated with the fact that there has been no major incident of violence reported from any part of the valley post abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the State into two Union Territories. 

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3 Apple traders killed in 15 days 

In the past 15 days, the terrorists have killed four non-locals, three out of whom were apple traders. According to the sources, the terrorists want to cripple the economy of Kashmir as apple trade is the mainstay of Kashmir's economy. More than 20 lakh people are directly or indirectly linked with the apple trade in Kashmir. In the past as well the terrorists have targeted the fruit trade in the valley, by setting several orchids on fire. The local fruit farmers are concerned about their livelihood being targeted by the militants.

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"It is year-long labour to see your apple trees bearing fruit, as apple production takes a lot of hard work. For every apple grower, the trees are like our children but the terrorists are not letting us make a livelihood by selling our produce. I had to personally come to Jammu to sell whatever fruit I could bring here." a fruit grower from South Kashmir (refused to be named)  said. 

Amid continuous threats from the terrorist organisations, security agencies say that they will ensure that the fruit traders are provided with etiquette security so that the terrorists don't succeed in their nefarious designs to cripple the backbone of Kashmiri economy.

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(with ANI inputs)