Police in Kashmir on Friday announced cash rewards and established public helpline for ‘credible information’ on mysterious incidents of braid-chopping across rural Kashmir even as protests were held in southern Anantnag district for Government’s inaction to track down the culprits. More than a dozen incidents of braid-chopping have been reported from several areas of south and central Kashmir.
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Munir Khan said that anyone providing credible information and assisting in nabbing the anti-social elements would be rewarded Rs 3 lakh and the identity will be kept secret.
“The person who will give credible information and assist in nabbing any anti-social element found in such incidents will be rewarded Rs 3 lac by IG Kashmir. The particulars of that person will be kept secret,” a police spokesman said.
last week Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti directed the police chief Shesh Paul Vaid to constitute Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incidents but there has been no headway. On Thursday evening, people thrashed two youngsters including a non-local labourer in Anantnag district suspecting them to be involved in the incidents. However, they were later found to be not involved.
Police said to speed up the investigation process, Special Investigation Teams (SITs) have been constituted in every district headquarters of the valley. “Police Community Group meetings were also held wherein PCG members were advised to help and assist police in keeping a close vigil regarding braid cutting incidents in their respective areas,” spokesman said.
Sources said that mysterious persons force their entry into homes, sprinkle some substance on lonely women and fled away after cutting their braid. They leave the tuft on the ground and run away. No person has been arrested so far.
According to reports hundreds of people blocked the Srinagar-Jammu national highway near Wanpoh in Anantnag district Friday morning to protest against a fresh “braid chopping” incident that allegedly took place in the area.
The people demanded immediate action from the police. The protests in the area continued for more than an hour before authorities were able to clear the national highway. Following protests in Wanpoh people came out in large numbers in Nai Basti area of the Anantnag district and blocked the busy Khannabal-Pahalgam road. The protestors alleged that the hair of a 15 year old girl was chopped off in Nanda Mohalla locality of the Nai Basti area.
The mysterious incidents have continued in Kulgam district for over more than a week now, before the phenomenon made way to Anantnag district. late Thursday evening people in Shirpora area of Anantnag caught hold of a man and beat him to pulp, alleging that he was a “braid chopper”.
On Friday, hundreds of people blocked the Srinagar-Jammu national highway near Wanpoh in Anantnag to protest against a fresh braid chopping incident.
The issue is widely discussed on social media and allegations are leveled against security forces for their involvement. Separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani regretted that in a highly militarized region, the criminals involved in the braid-cutting incidents go scot free. “The silence and incapability speaks volumes about the grave situations and is highly condemnable that despite attacks on modesty of women folk by these mysterious elements, the authorities are not ashamed of their failure,” Geelani said in a statement.
