In a horrifying incident, a mob tried to burn alive a ‘mentally-challenged’ person on suspicion of him being a braid-chopper in north Kashmir’s Sopore area.
Describing the incident as “collective frenzied behaviour,” senior Minister in the Mehbooba Mufti Cabinet Naeem Akhtar, who is also the chief spokesman of the PDP-BJP Government, asked the people to desist from exhibiting such behaviour.
Meanwhile, adding fuel to the fear-charged atmosphere, the separatist groups called for a shutdown on Saturday and accused the security agencies of being involved in the mysterious incidents.
Sources said vigilantes caught hold of a young man roaming around aimlessly in Fruit Mandi area of Sopore on Friday morning. The people branded him a braid-chopper and beat him up. Not satisfied with that, they stripped the young man and several vigilantes lit a fire and tried to burn him.
In a video that went viral after the incident, some vigilantes could be heard shouting that the man’s throat should be slit. luckily for the man, police arrived and rescued the hapless man from the clutches of the mob. He was escorted to a local hospital and later shifted to Srinagar for treatment where his condition is said to be critical.
The victim was later identified by police as Wasim Ahmad Tantray a mentally-challenged youth.
“We received information that an alleged braid-chopper had been attacked by locals in the Fruit Mandi area of Sopore. We rescued him and rushed him to hospital, but his condition is critical,” a police officer said.
IGP Kashmir Muneer Khan said the man who was thrashed was mentally challenged. “Had police not reached on time, they would have lynched him or burnt him alive. Is this justifiable,” he said.
Superintendent of Police Harmeet Singh said an FIR has been registered, and the vigilantes had been identified. “Action will be initiated against the culprits,” he said.
He asked people to desist from taking the law into their hands and inform police if any suspicious person is found in any locality.
The incident triggered massive public disapproval as people expressed dismay over the happening.
Over 130 incidents of alleged braid chopping have been reported in the Valley in the last one month. Special teams have been set up to contain the alleged incidence, which has spread panic among the citizens, but the police have failed to make any arrests.
The Government has set up a Special Investigation Team to probe the incidents and police announced a cash prize of Rs 6 lakh for anyone who provides information about the alleged braid-choppers.
Senior Minister Naeem Akhtar while slamming Friday’s incident said, “Whether braid-chopping is real or psychological, one thing has become clear, We as a people are the worst posters of what we claim to be - Kashmiris. Neither Kashmir’s ethos nor the teachings of the religion of Islam that we claim to be following, allows, much less recommend the kind of brutal behaviour that we display.”
The Minister termed it as an ethical crisis facing Kashmir. “It is a millstone around our neck and we alone can and must throw it away. You, me and every Kashmiri,” he said.
Akhtar called on the people to desist from resorting to violence. “No braid-chopper has been apprehended so far and it is the duty of the law enforcing agencies to nab the culprits. But numerous innocent persons have become the victims of our collective criminal behaviour. The Sopore incident, bone chilling as it is, is only the latest,” said Akhtar.
Meanwhile, the Joint Resistance leadership, comprising separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik called for a complete shutdown and civil curfew on Saturday against the unabated braid-chopping incidents.
They said the decision was taken during a meeting on Thursday evening at the residence of Geelani at Hyderpora.
They also appealed to the people not to harm any suspects and “instead hand them over to Masjid committees”.
The Kashmir University also postponed examinations scheduled for Saturday.
Meanwhile, terrorists on Friday hurled a grenade at the house of ruling PDP lawmaker Mushtaq Ahmad Shah at Tral, reports said.
No loss of life, or injuries was reported. Shah was not present in the house.