No let up in braid chopping across Kashmir

Srinagar: Panic gripped in Batamaloo area of Srinagar after three incidents of mysterious braid chopping occurred in the locality from the past three consecutive days.

The fresh incident of braid chopping was reported today in SD Colony here.

Inhabitants informed that the braid of a woman in the colony was chopped by an unknown person. “Some unknown person barged into the house of a woman (name withheld) and chopped off her braid,” the locals informed.

This was the third incident in the area from Wednesday, this week.

The locals, following the incident took to streets to protest against the ‘failure of administration in nabbing the culprits’.

They said that such frequent incidents have left them worried. “The Police should crack the whip on the braid choppers immediately so that the people could feel a sigh of relief,” the protesting inhabitants said.

The fresh incident of braid chopping was also reported from Ajas area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district today.

“The braid choppers chopped off the braid of a woman in Hajam Mohalla in Ajas today. Her braid was chopped off by unknown persons inside her residential house,” locals said.

Following the incident, the inhabitants including men and women protested against the braid chopping and demanded an immediate end to such activities.

The Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday termed such incidents as an attempt to create mass hysteria and to undermine the dignity of the women in the state.

She also stated that the steps have been taken in this regard while her regime would also find the motives behind these incidents.

Earlier, the state Police asserted that 100 incidents of braid chopping occurred in Kashmir so far while ruing the “lack of co-operation” from the members of public. They have also announced a reward of Rs. six lakhs for credible information about the braid choppers.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Range, Munir Ahmad Khan said that two incidents of alleged braid chopping were reported today. “The alleged braid chopping incidents were reported from Sopore and Batamaloo area today,” he said. (KNS)