Srinagar: Directing government to intensify proper patrolling, Jammu and Kashmir High Court (HC) ordered the police to adopt the technique of crime mapping to nab those involved in braid chopping incidents in the state, where over 350 cases were reported.
A Division Bench (DB) of the HC comprising Chief Justice, Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray issued the order on Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Hilal Akbar Lone and Advocate Masarat Kaunsar, who had sought investigation in rising incidents of braid chopping in the state. The petitioners further alleged that women in the state are facing a different kind of physical violence of braid chopping which is alarming and unabatedly rising, giving sleepless nights to women folk and their families.
After going through the report filed by the government as directed by the court during last hearing, Justice Ahmad directed the police to use crime mapping to check the locations where the crimes are taking place with date and time of incident. This, the court said, will help to know sequences how it is going so that police can do proper patrolling.
The court directed the state to file another status report over the investigation about registered cases and also sought report about Jammu division on next date of hearing on October 25, 2017.
The HC also ordered government to file report indicating the data of braid chopping collected from other states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana.
The court said that the data shall indicate the process of investigation done. “Has any charge sheet or person been arrested, so that we can see what they have been doing to curb the menace? We will also come to know whether the person convicted was individual or associated with some group,” it said.
Counsel representing the state B A Dar in the report filed in the HC said that 100 cases have been registered in various districts of Kashmir division and the investigations are underway.
Srinagar and Kupwara recorded highest 21 braid chopping cases. However, out of 21 cases, only 11 have filed FIR in Srinagar, the report filed Advocate Dar said adding eleven cases were registered in central Kashmir district of Badgam, where one beard chopping incident was also reported.
As many as 19 cases of braid chopping incidents were reported in south Kashmir district of Anantnag. The report said that four cases were registered in Awantipora and Shopian.
In another central Kashmir district of Ganderbal, there were three cases of braid chopping the court was informed.
The report filed in the court said that only one person has so far been arrested and investigation is going on.
Advocate Dar in the report further informed the court that 252 cases of braid chopping incidents were reported in Jammu division. Highest 102 cases were reported in Jammu followed by Kathua 25, Samba 23 and Doda and Rajouri 17.
He informed the court that police is making every possible effort to nab the culprits and Special Investigation Team (SIT) have been constituted in every district to take up the investigation on fast track.
Advocate Dar further informed the court that regular patrolling is done by police and helpline have been provided for people to seek any assistance.
The HC directed state to adopt preventive measures and take proper patrolling, when advocate Mian Abdul Qayoum pleaded that police is not doing proper patrolling during night when the incidents are taking place.
The court further order that fresh status report shall indicate the measures police have been taken and what they will do in future.
Advocate G N Shaheen, who described braid chopping as an organized crime, informed the court that police has not recorded the statement of a single victim out of 20 victims he has met. Public has handed over culprits to police, but they have been released, he alleged.
One of the petitioner Advocate Lone alleged that government was not sensitive towards this issue when the incidents are taking place all over the state.
Presenting videos of public nabbing incidents allegedly involved in the braid chopping in Kulgam in south Kashmir and Ishbar in Nishat in Srinagar, he said frequent incidents have resulted in public outcry.
Justice Durrez said that the person nabbed by public may be or may not be a braid chopper but the court needs solid evidence.
However, he said the public should not take law in their hands and also not panic too much.
Another petitioner Advocate Masarat Kaunsar alleged that the police officers at Rajbagh did not come to people’s rescue when called and instead mistreated them. The HC directed her to present the call details and recordings so that action can be taken against the guilty police personnel.
