Armed with sticks, knives and small axes, groups of men have mushroomed in the past month across Kashmir that has seen at least 100 incidents of ‘braid chopping’ – mysterious instances in which women wake up to find their braids cut off. It is around 9:30pm. A dozen young men, armed with sticks, knives and small axes have gathered at a small four-way intersection in a congested locality on the outskirts of Srinagar. The autumn night is chilly and the men light a bonfire before turning to their phones for…
Read MoreDay: October 21, 2017
Over 40% population has no proper drinking water supply across J&K
Over 43 percent of J&K habitations have erratic or no piped water supply, making people living in these areas depend on open sources of water, often contaminated, putting their lives at risk as per Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS). In J&K, only 56.2 percent of habitations are fully covered by a water supply schemes as per 2017 J&K state profile data by Ministry of Water and Sanitation. With 15,958 habitations in J&K, the data shows that more than 7000 habitations, 43.8 of the total, have incomplete coverage by…
Read MoreRestrictions imposed in Srinagar to prevent protest against braid-chopping
Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar city on Saturday to maintain law and order in the wake of a separatist-called protest shutdown against growing incidents of braid chopping. Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar city on Saturday to maintain law and order in the wake of a separatist-called protest shutdown against growing incidents of braid chopping. “Restrictions have been imposed in Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj, Rainawari, Khanyar, Safa Kadal, Maisuma and Kralkhud areas,” the police said. The separatist leaders have appealed to people to hand over suspected braid choppers…
Read MoreDivide within militant camp spills into open, UJC alleges Musa part of Indian conspiracy
A deepening divide within Kashmir’s militant camp has come to surface as Pakistan-based United Jehad Council (UJC) struggles to contain the growing influence of its former commander Zakir Musa, a hardcore Islamist. The UJC, a conglomerate of several leading militant groups loyal to Pakistan, issued a damning allegation against Musa and described him as a “façade” used by Indian intelligence agencies. Musa, who has publicly vowed to fight for an Islamist cause in Kashmir and disavowed fighting for a secular state, is a former field commander of Hizbul Mujahideen. He…
Read MoreWe can’t give sweeping judgment that it is mass hysteria: Nayeema Mehjoor
Had the state authorities professionally handled the alleged braid cutting incidents at the beginning in Kashmir, the mysterious phenomenon wouldn’t have touched the alarming levels, chairperson State Women’s Commission (SWC), Nayeema Mehjoor, said on Friday. “There is every possibility that a few cases of braid chopping would have been related to mental health in the beginning. Even a few cases suggest so even today. But the phenomenon has now gone out of control where criminals and other elements have joined in,” Mehjoor said. Mental health experts who are probably the…
Read MoreVigilantism on rise as Braid-cutting leaves Police, People guessing
Woman’s braid cut in Budgam No Friday prayers allowed in Jamia Masjid for 4th week Mob tried to immolate deranged in Sopore, drown another youth in Hazratbal: Police With police failing to crack braid chopping cases, the vigilantism by youth have increased in the Valley and these are taking an ugly turn. On Friday, a mob tried to set on fire a mentally unfit youth in Sopore and attempted to drown another in Hazratbal area in Srinagar after mistaking them as braid choppers. Both were rescued by police. “Strip him,…
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