Security forces had to burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators at Mahoo in Pulwama where one person was taken into custody for questioning in braid chopping incident.
Meanwhile, with no letup in braid chopping incidents fear psychosis has gripped the valley, where many people, including two women, were thrashed by mobs at various places. A 70-year-old man lost his life to his hysteria after he was hit by a brick outside his house as people mistook him as a braid chopper.
The Opposition political parties, besides J&K State Women Commission Chairperson Nayeema Ahmed Mehjoor have also hit out at the government over failure of the police department to make any breakthrough in the braid chopping cases.
Official sources told UNI that braid of a woman was chopped by unidentified persons early this morning outside her house at Khrew in Pampore on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir. “She went out early in the morning to buy bread when she was attacked by unidentified persons. Something was sprayed into her eyes and her braid was chopped,” a family member of the victim said.
Massive protests erupted at Khrew and adjoining areas after the new of braid chopping of the woman spread in the area.
Braid of another woman was reportedly chopped by unidentified persons at Firdousabad in Batamaloo in civil lines in Srinagar, sources said, adding gold jewelry of the woman was also stolen. People hit the streets in the area against alleged failure of the government to nab and arrested the culprits behind the attacks.
Reports of braid chopping also came from in north Kashmir’s Tangmarg area, triggering massive protests by the locals.
Meanwhile, security forces clashes with protestors at Mahoo in south Kashmir district of Pulwama after the latter caught a suspected braid chopper. Security forces burst teargas shells to disperse the mob and took the suspected braid chopper into custody. “The person is being questioned by the police,” sources said.
“Police is not able to make any breakthrough in these cases which means that there are agencies involved in these incidents. It is being done to create fear psychosis among the common masses. Government is also involved in these cases,” National Conference (NC) Additional General Secretary Mustafa Kamal, who is the brother of NC president Farooq Abdullah, said.
Meanwhile, Ms Mehjoor said that it is a matter of concern that police is not able to make a breakthrough in such cases.
However, Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid said that it is difficult to make a breakthrough in such cases without the cooperation of the common people.
He further warned that the mob mentality is not good for our society. “Handover the suspected persons to police instead of thrashing them, we will investigate the matter,” he added.
So far, about 50 braid chopping incidents have taken place in Kashmir valley, where such cases have created panic among people. Many women living in various parts of the Valley have stopped going to morning and evening walks due to the scare of braid chopping.