Kashmir's apples rot amid India's blockade on the disputed territory

ARIHAL, India - At this time of year, the fruit and vegetable wholesale markets of Kashmir are usually packed with people and overflowing with crisp red apples, the prize harvest of this rugged agricultural region.

But the markets, or mandis, stand deserted. A nearly three-month crackdown by Indian authorities has brought Kashmir's economy to a standstill and taken a giant bite out of the lucrative apple harvest.

Orchards are filled with fallen and rotting fruit and half the harvest is feared destroyed since India imposed an unprecedented blockade in Kashmir in August - halting phone and internet communications,