As the police maintain silence over braid-chopping incidents, fear continues to grip the Kashmir valley. Residents feel insecure even inside their houses.
Braid-chopping incidents were first reported in south Kashmir’s Anantnag and Kulgam districts in mid-September and have since spread to others districts of the region.
Almost every day, a braid-chopping incident or a failed attempt is being reported from some part of the Valley and protests are being held. One such protest was held in the Boniyar area of north Kashmir’s Uri sub-district yesterday.
The panic triggered by the incidents is unprecedented, as residents feel unsafe even inside their houses. Night vigils being held by teenage boys and men armed with sticks and axes have now become a norm.
“We stayed up all night. Some people reported that there were three to four braid choppers roaming in the area. Everyone came out of their houses and began searching for them,” said Gulzar Ahmad, a resident of central Kashmir’s Magam township.
The police have reported that more than 70 cases of braid chopping have been registered so far. The police, however, have failed to reach a conclusion so far, as volatile law and order situation is hampering the investigation.
Police officials say they are looking at multiple possibilities, including personal enmity and psychiatric disorders. “The majority of the cases have a history of psychiatric ailment. It has also been found that they visit faith healers,” a district police superintendent said.
Psychiatrists, however, say it is difficult to come to a conclusion without examining every case. “It is difficult to conclude at this stage whether all victims are psychiatric patients. It is difficult to deduct a pattern,” a psychiatrist said.
“Without examining every case individually, we cannot come to a conclusion that it is a psychiatric phenomenon,” he said.
Another psychiatrist said the police’s announcement for reward has led to complications. “We cannot come with an announcement that this is a psychiatric issue when the police are officially looking for some culprit,” the psychiatrist said.
A large majority of fear-stricken residents, however, refuse to accept that the braid-chopping incidents can be linked to any psychiatric issue. “It is a conspiracy of the government,” 60-year-old Jawahira, a resident of city’s Gulab Bagh, said. She based her arguments on the discussions with other women in the neighbourhood. “We now keep our doors bolted entire day and open it only when we are sure that the person at the door is familiar,” she said.
Meanwhile, The incidents of braid cutting are continuing unabated with at least three more cases reported across Kashmir.
Three more incidents of braid cutting of women were reported from Srinagar, Sopore and Ganderbal areas. In Srinagar’s Lal Bazar area an unknown man allegedly tried to cut the hair of a woman in Botshah Mohalla. However the attempt failed but the victim reported to police that her golden ornament was snatched by the intruder.
According to a police official a woman complained that she was busy in cleaning house when some unknown man managed to make entry.
“The family stated that unknown man failed in an attempt to cut braid of a woman as she raised hue and cry after which the alleged braid choppers disappeared from the scene but managed to snatch a golden chain,” said a police official. In Sopore, unidentified persons broke into the house of Mudasir Kanna at Khushal Matoo area and chopped off the hair of his 24-year-old wife. Following the incident, local residents hit roads and staged a protest against the authorities for failing to nab the culprits.
The protests turned into clashes soon after police reached the scene. Witnesses said that people hurled stones on police which in retaliation fired tear smoke shells to disperse them. In Ganderbal protests broke out in Wanipora, Saloora, area of the district after unknown persons chopped off braid of a 7-th class student when she was studying at her home.
As per reports local residents blocked Duderhama-Srinagar road near Qamaria Park that triggered traffic jam. Across Kashmir over 105 incidents of braid cutting have been reported so far with police yet to achieve any breakthrough. Police have also started to investigate these incidents “on scientific pattern besides traditional methods of investigation.”
In Batamaloo area of Srinagar, in order to maintain clear visibility people have started to install more lights on streets and courtyards to keep away the braid choppers. “The threat perception is growing each day. We don’t want to take any risk, so ensuring proper lights around houses is a possible measure,” said Manzoor Ahmad of S D colony, Batamaloo which has witnessed at least three incidents if braid cutting. Similarly, people in other parts of Kashmir area taking precautionary measures to keep braid cutters at bay. “We keep lights on during night in our house so that if anyone attempts to intrude, he can be spotted easily. We also latch gates and windows of our houses,” said Bashir Ahmad from Baramulla.
In addition, people in certain areas also arm themselves with knives, iron rods, sticks and cricket bats especially during night hours to fight braid cutters. Police have announced a reward of Rs 6 lakh for credible information about braid choppers. Special Investigations Teams (SITs) of police have also been formed in all districts to oversee these cases. Police also has sought public cooperation to check the crime as it has claimed that people and victims were not cooperating with investigating agencies.
What police say
Police say they are looking at multiple possibilities, including personal enmity and psychiatric disorders
A district police superintendent says the majority of the braid-chopping cases have a history of psychiatric ailment. It has also been found that they visit faith healers, he claims
What psychiatrists say
Psychiatrists say it is difficult to come to a conclusion without examining every case
The police’s announcement for reward has led to complications, they maintain
