Assaulted by frenzied mob in Sopore, mentally challenged Shrakwara man fights battle for life

Sopore: A mob frenzied by braid-chopping rumours attempted to set a a mentally challenged man on fire at the outskirts of Sopore. The man, believed to be Waseem Ahmed Tantray, son of Ghulam Nabi Tantray from Shrakwara Wagoora was caught in the wee hours on Friday morning by a vigilante group in Mazbuk village, 3 kms from Sopore town. In late evening hours braid of a 12 th class student was cut by unidentified persons in Beerwa area in Centrak Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Clashes erupted in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district after police rescued a mentally deranged person mistaken as braid-chopper by the locals.
Reports said that police lobbed teargas shells to disperse the youth who were pelting them with stones in Fruit Mandi area. Four civilians were reportedly injured during the clashes. They were shifted to Sub-district hospital for treatment.
Earlier, locals said an alleged braid chopper was nabbed after he was “moving suspiciously” in Mazbug area around 3am. “He was ruthlessly beaten by the crowd,” they said.
Sources told Kashmir Horizon that Tantray had been wandering in the village for a few days. Friday, he was caught by locals after he was seen roaming at 3 am. He later entered the local mosque. Tantray has been admitted to Sopore District Hospital from where he was referred to Srinagar for advanced treatment given his critical condition.
His family members said that Ahmad lost his mental balance after his mother’s death. “Since then, he keeps on wandering during night hours,” they said.
SSP Sopore, Harmeet Singh Mehta told The Kashmir Horizon “Culprits have been identified based on the videos being shared on social media and FIR number 302/2017 has been lodged in Police station Sopore under section 307. Arrests will follow soon.”
In yet another braid chopping incident the vraid of a 12th standard student was chopped off in Beerwah area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday.
This is the third such incident in the area during past couple of weeks. Reports said that the braid of the girl (name withheld) was present inside her home in Ganie Mohalla when she was allegedly attacked. “Her family found her unconscious with her braid chopped off,” they said.
Hair of over 100 women and young girls has been mysteriously chopped off across the Valley during past month. These girls and women 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.
The growing incidents have forced people to form local committees in every locality who remain awake throughout the night to ensure no braid cutting incident occurs.
These incidents have already created fear psychosis across Kashmir with fear griping the women folk who find it very difficult to venture out of their homes.