A soldier of Jammu & Kashmir light Infantry was beaten up ruthlessly by a mob in Kupwara district of north Kashmir on Tuesday on suspicion of being involved in a braid chopping incident, said police, adding that they did not find any hair cutting incident at Chowkibal.
The injured jawan, whose identity has not been revealed yet, was later rescued by his colleagues and police personnel with the incident being recorded on mobile phones and the videos going viral on the social media.
Clashes erupted in the area after the incident. However, the situation was later brought under control by police.
Meanwhile, the house of slain former sarpanch Mohammad Ramazan Sheikh — shot dead at his residence in South Kashmir’s Shopian on Monday — was set ablaze by a mob. A local Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was killed during a scuffle on Monday evening after the PDP worker was shot.
There are conflicting versions on the incident. Sources said a group of people set the house of Sheikh, who was ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worker on fire.
“A mob on the instigation of terrorists attacked the house of ex-sarpanch who was martyred on Monday night. Police and security forces have rushed to the spot,” J&K Police chief Shesh Paul Vaid tweeted. “Family has been rescued by the police and security forces. Strong action under law is being taken against the perpetrators,” he added.
Sheikh was buried earlier in the day and the family members were mourning at the house when the house was set ablaze.
Police said they were expecting the attack and ensured safety of Sheikh’s family members.
On Monday evening, three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists barged
in the house of Sheikh and shot him dead. In the scuffle with the family, a local Hizb terrorist Showkat Ahmad Kumar, alias Falai, was killed. Police say he was killed by a bullet fired by his associate, the locals said the terrorists was beaten to death by the family members of the slain PDP activist. The people in Kashmir remain vigilant during dark hours after the incidents of braid chopping increased in Kashmir.
A local resident said that the terrorists were taken as braid choppers and attacked. He said the terrorist was killed first and in retaliation they killed the village representative. A police officer had earlier said that terrorists had scuffle among themselves over whether Sheikh was to be fatally hit or shot in his leg to scare him.
The incident has created fear in the area which is dominated by terrorists since last year.