The decision of the state government to constitute special investigation teams (SITs) and announcement of cash reward of Rs 6 laks to those providing leads for the arrest of braid choppers are by no standards of understandabilities the tools of curbing the increasing braid chopping menace in Kashmir valley. Shameless it is for the Jammu & Kashmir polices that it remains to be clueless about the movements of the braid choppers and the braid chopping incident occurring and re-occurring day in and day out in several parts of Kashmir. Shamelessly the Director General Police Dr S.P. Vaid squarely puts the blame of braid chopping on separatists without taking measures to stop the re-occurrence of braid chopping incidents in different parts of Kashmir valley. The job of the police is not only killing militants in encounter but the real challenges for police are strong offensives against criminals creating an atmosphere of social insecurity in the presence of a hostile political atmosphere and disturbing law and order scenario in the state. Announcement of special investigating teams (SITs) and cash rewards for people to people providing leads for the arrest of braid choppers are not the police actions required for curbing the increasing frequency of braid chopping incidents in Kashmir valley. The failures of the police in stopping the occurrence and re-occurrence of braid chopping incidents in several parts of Kashmir valley have shaken the faith of the government in the working police and unless and until the special investigation teams (SITs) constituted for the arrest of braid choppers don’t identify the braid choppers and arrest them the faith of people in the working already shaken by the anti-public postures of police ranks during last year’s unrest can’t be restored. As the elected representatives are disappointed over the way police is working on anti-braid chopping initiatives, the Chief Minister does not bother to seek explanations from the police for blaming politicians of a particularly ideology without providing substantial evidence against them.
Responses to braid chopping lie in effective policing but not the politicization of the issue.
Attempt to politicize the issues concerning social crimes is highly objectionable and irresponsible response to any anti-social activity in any part of the world and same holds good for the top police officials putting the blame of braid chopping on people of a particular political ideology without providing substantial evidence in support of their claim. Interestingly the top police functionaries are suspecting hand of the people of particular political ideology in braid chopping in Kashmir only but not in Jammu where the leaders of BJP and other hard core affiliates of Sangh parivar are publicly supporting cow vigilantism. Responses to braid chopping lie in effective policing but not the politicization of the issue.
