Police on Tuesday said that it has arrested sixteen allegedly involved in an attempt to drown a civilian by suspecting him as braid chopper in Dal Lake near Hazratbal last week.
A police officer told news agency GNS that On 19th October "miscreants" from Hazratbal area caught hold of one civilian who had come to offer prayers at the Hazratbal Shrine, accusing him to be a braid chopper.
"The mob consisting of local boys illegally restrained the civilian, beat him ruthlessly and also tried to drown him in Dal lake. In the meanwhile Police party of PS Nigeen rushed to the spot and rescued this victim, the violent mob resorted to heavy stone pelting on police party", the officer said.
He said that a case FIR no.140/2017 U/S 307,323,341,342,147,148 RPC was registered and investigation taken up.
During the course of investigation sixteen "miscreants" who were part of the violent mob were identified and have been arrested.
The officer identified the arrested persons as Abdul Rasbid Sofi (65) r/o Dobhi Gath Hazratbal, Bilal Ahmad Aofi (24) @ sunny r/o Banday Lane Hazratbal, Manzoor Ahmad Sopori (29) @ Adil s/o Ghulam Mohd Sopori r/o Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal, Suhail Ahmad Wani @ Suhail poison (25) r/o Dhobi Gath Hazratbal, Chraan Ahmad sheikh (18) r/o Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal, Owais Ahmad Shalla (28) r/o Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal, Bilal Ahmad Dar @kila (30) r/o Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal, Tufail Ahmad Wani (18) @udo r/o Dhobbi Ghat Hazratbal, Mohd Idress Baba (22) r/o Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal, Danish Nazir Teli (19) r/o Hazratbal , Umer Ali Ganie (26) r/o Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal, Fayaz Ahmad Dar (31) r/o Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal, Azhar Bashir (24) r/o Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal A/P Shalimar, Muneer Ahmad Sofi (29) @ Munna r/o Banday Lane Hazratbal, Owais Nazir Yatoo (21) r/o Yatoo Mohalla Hazratbal and Mohd Saleem Shaksaz (27) r/o Shaksaz Mohalla Hazratbal.
The arrested miscreants have further revealed names of their accomplices and police is in the process to nab the remaining trouble mongers as well.
A number of persons have been arrested by police for attacking innocents accusing them of being braid choppers.
Director General of Police (DGP) of police said that there were 74 incidents wherein people beat innocents for being braid choppers.
He said that all persons involved in beating of innocents will be arrested.