Srinagar: As law enforcing authorities fail to get clues about over one hundred braid chopping incidents reports in several parts of Kashmir valley dozens of people were injured in clashes that erupted after fresh braid chopping incidents .
Clashes erupted in Mehjoor Nagar area of Srinagar after the braid of a woman was chopped off by unidentified miscreants. Reports said immediately after the incident the angered youth in large numbers took to roads and clashed with government forces. The shopkeepers pulled down their shutter as forces fired a warning shot in air after agitated youth resorted to massive stone-pelting. Police lobbed tear-smoke shells, however, protesting youth continued to hurl rocks on Forces for hours together.
Protest erupted in Chattabal area of Srinagar city against an overnight braid chopping incident there. Large number of women hit to roads and raised anti-government and anti-police slogans. Divulging information about the incident locals said: “a miscreant barged into the secluded house of Bilal Ahmed Gojri, a conductor by profession who lives with a non-local better-half. The miscreant attacked the woman while Gojri during confrontation lost the balance and fell down on the ground from the window. Gojri suffered injuries and is unable to move,” they said.
The protesters mostly women amid slogans castigated government for failing to protect the honour and dignity of women folk.
Eyewitnesses said panic gripped in Dandarkha area of Batamallo when the braid of a woman was chopped off. Reports said that people found the victim unconscious with her braid cut and she was immediately rushed to SMHS Hospital for treatment.
Police lobbed tear-smoke shells to disperse scores of protesters at Lasjan Bypass after a fresh braid chopping incident in the area.
Locals said that miscreants chopped off the braid of a woman at Golapora Lasjan. The incident sparked protest while agitated youth hit to Lasjan highway and tried to block the traffic. Government Forces swung into action and fired tear-gas shells.
Reports from North Kashmir’s Baramulla district said that a group of people mistook three army soldiers in plain clothes as braid choppers and thrashed them mercilessly. Reports added that blood oozed out from the nose of one of the victim.
A police official said that three army men posted at Kitchama, were on way to Baramulla when a group of “miscreants” stopped them near Sheeri and after checking their identity cards thrashed them. “They were thrashed before police rescued them. An FIR has been registered and investigation taken up,” he added.
At least five persons suffered bullet injuries after Army allegedly resorted to firing to disperse protesters who were chasing an alleged braid chopper in Wullerhama village of Salar area in Anantnag district on Wednesday.
Eyewitnesses said unidentified miscreants tried to chop off the braid of wife of Muhammad Zulifkar Sofi during wee hours while agitated people caught hold of a suspect and thrashed him mercilessly. They said shortly after the arrival of army, the suspect tried to flee in an army vehicle, while agitated people stoned him and the army vehicle.
“The army fired upon the protesters that left at least five protesters wounded who were immediately rushed to District Hospital Anantnag,” said locals.
Some of the wounded were identified as Jana Begum, Muhammad Irshad and Abdul Rashid.
Reports said that after this incident the situation in Wullerhama and Sallar villages remained tense while youth at the both villages fought pitched battles with government forces during the day.
Reports from Kulgam district said that the braid of a 13 year old student, daughter of Nisar Ahmed Ganai was chopped off by unidentified miscreants. Eyewitnesses said that people ran after the suspect but he managed to escape from the spot. “We were mulling to register a massive protest against this overnight incident on Wednesday morning, but our village was cordoned off by Army who conducted a search operation here,” said a local from Zangalpora Kulgam village.
Pertinently, over a 100 incidents of braid chopping have occurred in different parts of Kashmir Valley during the past month while police is still clueless.
The victims have told their families and police that unknown persons cut their hair after knocking them unconscious with some spray.
The police have formed Special Investigation Teams to probe the incidents. However, so far the police and the authorities have been clueless.
The police have announced a reward of Rs six lakh for credible information leading to arrest of any person behind braid chopping incidents. So far, no arrests have been made.
At several places, vigilante mobs have thrashed innocents mistaking them for braid choppers.
