The braid chopping incidents continued unabated in the Valley on Thursday triggering anti-government protests.
The residents of Zewan in Srinagar said a braid of a minor girl was cut by unknown persons inside her house last evening.
“The house is a stone throws distance from JKAP headquarters,” they said.
After the news spread that the braid of the minor girl has been cut, youth of the area took to roads and pelted stones on the policemen.
The clashes continued in the area for some time.
The residents of Zewan and adjoining areas complained that they have been spending sleepless nights from last few days in view of movement of braid cutters.
They said police is doing nothing and acting as a mute spectator. “Otherwise, how is it possible for a person to cut braid of a girl inside her house near police headquarters”.
The braid cutting incident was also reported from Dhobi Mohalla area of Hazratbal last evening.
After the incident, youth of the area took to roads in Hazratbal and its adjoining areas to protest against the braid-chopping incident.
The area observed shutdown today and youth and women staged anti-government demonstrations.
Meanwhile, braid of an aged woman was cut by unknown persons inside her house at Alamdar Colony, Gopalpora in Budgam district.
“At around 10 am, some unknown persons attacked her in her house and chopped off her braid,” the locals said.
They said the woman had recently returned from Hajj pilgrimage.
A 21-year-old girl was attacked and her braid chopped off by unknown persons in her house in Beerwah town.
The locals said the attackers strangulated her and chopped off her hair.
She was rushed to Sub District Hospital Beerwah where from she was referred to a hospital in Srinagar.
Protests were also held against an overnight braid chopping incident at Lari-Preng area of Kangan town in Ganderbal district.
The braid of a middle aged woman was chopped off by unknown persons on Wednesday evening.
After the incidents, people took to roads and staged protests against braid chopping.
They asked police to act against the braid choppers.
Meanwhile, mobile internet services continue to remain blocked in Anantnag district for second consecutive day today.
The mobile internet services were instantly snapped after forces firing on the protesters in Wularhama area of Anantnag district on Wednesday morning against an alleged braid chopping incident.
Five people had sustained injuries in the incident with four having bullet wounds.
Over 100 incidents of braid chopping have been reported in the Valley in over a month.
Police have formed special investigation teams to probe the braid chopping incidents. However, there has been no breakthrough so far.
The police have also announced a reward of Rs six lakh for credible information leading to arrest of any person behind braid chopping incidents.
Meanwhile, fresh braid chopping incidents sparked protests in several areas of Kashmir on Thursday, even as the administrations in Srinagar, Kulgam and Anantnag districts sought people’s cooperation in maintaining peace.
A witness said that an overnight braid chopping incident—second in a week— triggered shutdown and massive protests in Hazratbal here this morning. “Braid of a woman was chopped off at Dhobi Mohalla last night,” said a local Ali Muhammad Najar.
He said as the word about the incident spread in the area this morning, people took to streets and staged a massive protest against the “failure” of the government to identify and arrest the culprits.
Najar said that two incidents of braid-cutting have taken place in the area during the past week. Following the protests, shops and other commercial establishments remained closed.
Scores of workers of various separatist groups held a protest at Abi Guzar lane near the city centre Lal Chowk here against the unabated braid cutting incidents across Kashmir.
Lesser-known ‘All India Rahul Gandhi Association’ also held a protest at Press Enclave here and asked the government to expose the criminals behind the braid chopping incidents.
Budgam
Two fresh incidents of braid chopping were reported in Budgam district on Thursday. The first incident was reported from Gopalpora, Alamdar Colony in Chadoora sub-division where locals said that an aged woman was attacked at her home and her hair was cut. “At around 10 am, some unknown persons attacked her in her house and chopped off her braid,” they said. The victim had recently returned from Hajj pilgrimage, they added.
Meanwhile, people took to streets to protest the mysterious braid chopping incidents in Wathoora. They blocked Chadoora-Srinagar road, hampering the vehicular movement.
In a similar incident, a 21-year-old girl was attacked second time in her house in Beerwah town. Her braid has been cut in the attack, said locals. The incident led to Beerwah town observing a spontaneous shutdown.
A witness quoting her family told Kashmir Post that the unknown attackers strangulated her and chopped off her hair.
She was rushed to sub-district hospital Beerwah where from she was referred to a hospital in Srinagar.
Ganderbal
Residents of Lari-Preng in Ganderbal district staged protest on Srinagar-Leh highway at Preng on Thursday against an alleged braid chopping incident. The protesters said that braid of 26-year-old woman was chopped off by unknown persons at Lari-Preng area on Wednesday evening.
Chanting slogans, men and women protesters blocked Srinagar-Leh highway, leading to a traffic jam on the highway.
Later, a police party headed by station house officer Kangan reached the spot and pacified the protesters.
A doctor at sub-district hospital Kangan said that the victim was referred to SMHS hospital Srinagar as she was complaining of uncontrolled vomiting.
A police officer at Kangan told Kashmir Post that they are on job and are verifying the facts. “We have already taken up the investigation and after reaching any conclusion, we will act accordingly,” he said.
Cooperate With Us: District Administration
According to a spokesman of district administration Srinagar, two incidents of braid chopping were reported in Srinagar on October 18—one at Mehjoor Nagar at 7 am and another at Sangam at 3.30 pm
Reportedly both the ladies (victims) were attacked by unidentified assailants within the premises of their residential houses, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that it has come to fore after proper analysis that the braid chopping incidents occurred here over the past few days are being used as a ploy by the trouble mongers to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in Kashmir.
He said that in many cases, the braid chopping incidents are followed by stone-pelting and “law and order derangements.”
“Also, there have been cases where the thieves and criminals, disguising as braid choppers, take a free run. In some cases braid chopping has become a tool of vengeance against mutual animosity. Some cases have been reported where past history of psychiatric affliction has also been found,” he said.
“In this scenario, we requested the general public to remain cautious and help the administration to maintain law and order so that the nefarious designs in the garb of braid chopping do not find medium to vitiate peaceful atmosphere here,” the spokesman said.
SIT Constituted
Deputy commissioner Kulgam, Talat Parvez Rohilla chaired a meeting to review the progress, so far, on reported incidents of braid chopping in the district, an official spokesman said.
The deputy commissioner appealed the people to lend every sort of support to nab the culprits and help the district administration to “prevent spreading of mass hysteria.”
“In case of any assistance or help, people have been urged to contact the district administration on 01931260156/ 7051510654.”
Meanwhile, the district administration Anantnag has constituted a committee to investigate the braid chopping incidents reported in the district.
The district administration has sought cooperation of the general public to nab culprits and maintaining peace, an official spokesman said.
“People have been urged to cooperate with district administration and for any assistance contact on 18001807054/ 01932222337/ 9419047052/ 9419367252.”
