Thirty year old, Afroza Begum, was in the kitchen of her home at Gur Seer village–around five kilometers from Sopore town of Baramulla district—when some unknown person cut her hair. “I was in the kitchen when someone held my hair from behind and I lost consciousness. After gaining back consciousness, I found people surround me and my hair had been cut,” Begum said. She was shifted to sub-district hospital Sopore for treatment earlier on Tuesday, and doctors found no affliction of “psychological disturbance”. “A strand of Begum’s hair was found…
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People rushing for CCTVs, Video door-phones post Braid-chopping incidents
As the incidents of braid-cutting across Kashmir have caused fear among people, the demand for security systems such as CCTV cameras and video door phones has grown manifold. In order to create awareness among people about usage of security devices, a leading Srinagar-based security solutions company along with three outside companies would be soon holding interactive programmes in various areas, said Danish Bashir, managing director Chinar Security Systems. “The interactive sessions will be first held in Srinagar next week in public places such as parks. Leading security solutions companies Bosch,…
Read MoreBraid Chopping victims to go through lie detection test, blood sampling: IGP
The victims of mysterious braid chopping will have to undergo blood sampling and lie detection tests, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Muneer Khan said Friday. “Blood samples from all the victims of the braid-chopping will be collected and all of them will have to pass through a lie detection test,” Khan told Kashmir Post. Many victims had alleged that they were sprayed with some chemical that left them unconscious. “We have decided to take blood samples and find what type of chemical it is, which makes one unconscious in a…
Read MoreInnocent civilians face brunt as clueless vigilante groups take streets to capture culprits
A pack of stray dogs barked ferociously at cars zipping past the highway. I stopped momentarily before slowly moving ahead, struggling with the thought of whether or not I should be entering the pitch dark and narrow alley which leads to my rented house in an uptown locality of Srinagar. I wanted to be sure no one was lurking in the darkness with a knife or an axe waiting to pounce on a braid chopper or, worse still, confuse me for one. Across the length and breadth of Kashmir, a…
Read MoreBraid-Chopping can vitiate peace in Valley: Chief Women Panel
Expressing serious concern over the rising incidents of braid-chopping, the J&K State Commission for Women has asked the police to seek cooperation of people, apprehending that the chaos could vitiate peace in the Valley. Chairperson of the commission Nayeema Ahmad Mehjoor, who held a discussion with the civil society, media and the police today, said the police need to step in for restoring the shaken faith and confidence of the people. “The government through the Health Department should also clear the air about the chemical spray and its adverse effects…
Read MoreVigilantes on the Loose to solve Braid-Chopping Mystery
On Sunday night, rumour spread in the sleepy Charari Sharief town of central Kashmir that two ‘braid choppers’ had ‘almost’ gained entry into a house but for the vigilant house-owner who was roused in the nick of time, prompting the alleged perpetrators to flee. Criminals were on the run in the locality, so they were to be taught a lesson. In no time, a large crowd gathered to comb the area for the intruders. But the ‘search operation’ was anti-climactic. “They have probably run away,” one of the men quipped…
Read MoreTwo cops held for supplying ammunition to Hizb
Two overground workers of militant outfit also arrested Two Jammu and Kashmir constables were arrested today for allegedly supplying ammunition to the Hizbul Mujahideen, busting a “nexus” between the militant group and the police, a top official said. Constables Shabir Ahmad Malik and Nazir Ahmed Najar had allegedly supplied nearly 40 rounds of ammunition for the AK series of rifles to overground workers of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant group in south and central Kashmir, the police said. They were arrested along with two others allegedly affiliated with the group. Director…
Read More‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ poster features Asiya Andrabi, Govt embarrassed
A picture of jailed separatist and a pro-Pakistan leader Asiya Andrabi has appeared along with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and some other personalities in a poster on ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign. A picture of jailed separatist and a pro-Pakistan leader Asiya Andrabi has appeared along with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and some other personalities in a poster on ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign. The development has come as a major embarrassment for the state government. The poster, aimed at highlighting the women achievers…
Read MoreDenied ‘Character Certificate’ for govt job, Kashmiri man becomes most wanted militant
In a Valley where an extremist leader’s grandson and a terror chief’s sons were given employment by state, father of two little daughters wasn’t as lucky. It was spring of 2016 in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. After five months in Udhampur jail, Bilal Ahmed Mohanad was a “free man”. The state High Court had just quashed his imprisonment under the Public Safety Act, despite him being sentenced to at least two years in jail. Police had charged him with being an “overground worker” for militants, but…
Read MoreFresh braid-chopping incidents leave People, Police guessing
Fresh braid-chopping incidents were reported in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Sopore and Budgam districts on Tuesday. A group of residents from Karfali Mohalla in Downtown Srinagar said that during the wee hours, a woman alleged that two unknown persons barged into her house and hit her head with a brick and later cut her braid. “The woman also alleged that the attackers snatched a gold chain and Rs 7,000 from her,” the residents said. The victim was taken to a hospital but discharged later. The incident triggered massive protests in the…
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