Kashmir Valley remained on edge as the authorities imposed restrictions on Friday to thwart the separatists’ attempts to hold demonstrations against a spree of mysterious braid-chopping attacks on women and consequent vigilantism. At least one elderly person was killed when he was hit with a brick outside his house on Thursday night by vigilantes.
Earlier, in the day, the authorities placed three prominent separatist leaders, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik under house arrest, a day after they called for protests across the Valley against the braid-chopping incidents that have been plaguing Kashmir for the last three weeks.
Several such attacks triggered clashes between the people and the security forces, even as the police have no clue about the miscreants involved in the attacks. A cash reward of Rs 6 lakh has been announced for anyone providing information about the culprits, but the authorities have had no luck so far.
Even as Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has assured that the culprits would be nabbed soon, the situation has turned grim with vigilantes coming into the picture.
The vigilantes-turned-lynch mobs attack suspects and the ghastly deed is captured on mobile cameras.
The latest victim of vigilantism, 70-year-old Abdul Salam Wani, was killed when he came out of his home at Dantar Village in Anantnag to answer nature’s call. Suspecting him to be a braid-chopper, the vigilantes hit him with a brick on his head. A grievously injured Wani was shifted by neighbours to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Friday morning.
Earlier, a mob caught a non-local labourer at Sambora Village in Pulwama district when he was extracting sand from the riverbank. Accusing him of being a braid-chopper, the mob beat the labourer to a pulp. When police arrived on the scene to rescue him, they were attacked by the crowd, triggering massive clashes in the area.
In Ganderbal, a youngster was attacked when he went to meet his girlfriend, but was mistaken for a braid-chopper by the people around.
The girl later told the police that the youngster was her boyfriend and had come to meet her when he was attacked. A similar incident occurred in Pattan area of north Kashmir.
The braid-chopping incidents and the ensuing vigilantism have created a sense of insecurity and people are hesitant to venture out of their homes. In several areas, beggars have stopped venturing into the streets or knocking on people’s doors for alms.
The separatists have blamed Government agencies for creating a fear-psychosis among the people. The Joint Resistance leadership (JRl) comprising Geelani, Mirwaiz and Malik asked people to hold protests after Friday prayers against the Government’s failure to nab the culprits. While Geelani is under house arrest since 2010, the authorities also restricted the movement of Mirwaiz and Malik to prevent them from leading protests.
Mobile internet services were snapped while train services were stopped in the afternoon. The authorities also imposed restrictions on public movement in Old Srinagar and announced closure of several schools and colleges falling in sensitive areas.
Meanwhile, terrorists shot a former extremist Rafiq Ahmad Bhat alias Dada at Aabghar locality in Tral sub-district, while he was selling fruit there. Motorcycle-borne attackers shot him in the neck, injuring him grievously. He was immediately taken to hospital but was referred to a Srinagar hospital. He succumbed on the way to Srinagar.