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Padgampora, Shopian (J&K): For weeks, sleep has come in pieces for Mohammad Ramzan Chopan. The apple grower from Allowpora in south Kashmir’s Shopian district says his thoughts keep returning to a sheet of paper delivered to his doorstep by his village head on the directions of a revenue official.

The notice ordered him, along with 33 other orchardists, to vacate the land they have cultivated for decades.

“We got a share of 12 marlas from our family property. If this is taken from us, we will come on the road,” Chopan told The Wire.

Like many orchardists in Allowpora and adjoining villages of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, Chopan fears that the land could be taken away by the government that may leave his family without any source of livelihood.

“Our grandparents took care of this land and planted these trees,” said Chopan, 60, standing amid rows of apple trees. “Now, when the orchards have finally reached a stage where they can give us returns after years of hard work, the government wants it back. There is so much barren land available for projects. Why are they targeting these orchards?”

The notices, dated June 10 and received by orchardists on June 12, direct cultivators to vacate the land within seven days. Farmers said that they have been warned that failure to comply could invite legal action, including a fine of Rs 25,000 and one year in prison.

The administration maintains that the land belongs to the government, describing it as encroached Kahcharai or common grazing land. Officials said that the land has been identified for building public infrastructure and the notices were served to the alleged encroachers while denying allegations of forcible eviction.

However, the prospect of losing their land and livelihood has triggered anxiety among the farmers and their families.

Across Allowpora and neighbouring villages in Shopian, orchardists said that their families have been cultivating the land for more than five decades. Some do not even know exactly when their ancestors first began working in these........

© The Wire