Women protest against braid chopping incidents in Pulwama

Pulwama: Women in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district today carried out a peaceful protest demonstration against braid chopping incidents in the area.

The women protesters, who also blocked vehicular movement, were led by Yasmin Raja, head of Muslim Khawateen Markaz.

Raising slogans against the increased braid chopping incidents in the valley, the women demanded identification and arrest of the anti-social elements.

Pertinently, the soaring number of braid chopping incidents 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.

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