Mysterious braid chopping incidents continue to haunt Kashmiris

Srinagar: The soaring number of braid chopping incidents, which are showing no signs of relenting, with every new case mounting pressure on the government have created a fear psychosis among the people, especially womenfolk.

On Friday, fresh incidents of braid chopping were reported from different parts of Kashmir. A 40-year old woman’s braid was chopped at around 6:30 in the morning that later triggered massive protests that disrupted the vehicular movement on Srinagar-Jammu national highway. According to reports, braids of two more women were chopped in Baramulla district that also led to protests.

A 12th standard student was attacked around 8:45 am when she was moving in a street in Parray Mohalla area of Sangri Baramulla in north Kashmir.

Reports said that two youth sprayed something in her eyes, knocking her unconscious. “Later, her braid was found chopped off,” said a local.

Police have so far not been able to make any arrests in the case, even as over 50 incidents of braid chopping have been reported in the past three weeks.

A helpline has been established and a reward of six lakh rupees has also been announced on information leading to arrest of braid choppers.

Meanwhile, talking to senior correspondent Mohammad Lateef Bhat, religious leader and senior minister in the Mehbooba Mufti led government, Imran Ansari said the incidents of braid chopping have created fear psychosis among the people. He said the acts are highly condemnable and government should find out the hidden hands behind it.

He said such acts are not allowed in any religion. “In our religion, every forcible act committed on someone is both ‘unislamic and haram’,” he said.

He said wherever people find out any such incident happening, they should inform the village committees which the government has constituted, so that the culprits are booked.

According to reports, some 180 incidents of braid chopping occurred in Jammu and Kashmir in over a month. (KNS)