Many PDP leaders detained for bid to protest seeking insurance for hail-hit apple orchards in Kashmir

On August 16, 2026, several leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were reportedly apprehended in South Kashmir's Shopian during an attempt to organize protests for crop insurance for apple orchardists. Among those detained was former PDP legislator Aijaz Ahmad Mir, who had been advocating for the inclusion of apples and cherries under a comprehensive Crop Insurance Scheme.

Mir emphasized the need for farmers affected by recent hailstorms and other natural calamities to receive full compensation and 100% subsidy on anti-hail nets to protect their orchards from future losses. Horticulture serves as the primary economic backbone in South Kashmir, with Shopian, Kulgam, and Pulwama being significant apple-exporting centers.

Mir stated that the horticulture sector is crucial for farmers who rely on it for their livelihood. The PDP protests followed a hailstorm that hit apple orchards in Shopian and Kulgam districts just two days prior, causing distress among growers. Bashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union, noted that many farmers in South Kashmir depend on crops as their primary source of income. The PDP called upon the police to release all detained leaders and workers as soon as possible.