Kulgam witnesses two more incidents of braid chopping
After Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti ordered Director General of Police SP Vaid to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incidents of braid chopping in the state, two more such incidents were reported from South Kashmir’s Kulgam area today.
In Nagam area of Kokernag, Annatnag, a non-local woman was reportedly seen by the locals for spraying anesthesia on a local woman and cutting her braid.
“Joisy Jan came out from her house when she was called by a woman (hair buyer), the non local women sprayed some kind of toxic substance on the women’s face which left the women unconscious at around 3 pm in the afternoon,” witness said.
“After that her hair was chopped off,” they added.
In another incident today, the hair of a 10 year old girl identified as Taliba, daughter of Muhmmad Ayoub Ganie of Gulwan Pora Manzgam Kulgam was reportedly chopped off by unknown persons.
During the last 24 hours, around seven braid chopping incidents were reported in South Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in entire Kulgam district, where people were demanding that the culprits behind such crimes should be identified and punished immediately.
Over one dozen incidents of braid chopping incidents were reported from Anantnag and Kulgam districts during the last one week.
Notably, CM Mehbooba Mufti directed Director General of Police S P Vaid to constitute a special team to identify and bring to justice the persons behind the mysterious hair chopping incidents which came to fore in Kulgam district and other places of the state.
Local sources added that one alleged hair chopper was caught in Malwan village of the district late last evening, however, army fired in air and the alleged ‘braid chopper’ fled from the scene taking advantage of the chaos.
Residents of Malwan Kulgam claimed the army rescued an alleged braid chopper, whom they said they had apprehended near a graveyard outside a mosque in the village.
“People in the area are scared and feel insecure even in their own homes,” locals added.
Meanwhile, police authorities in Kulgam has refuted any claims by the residents of the Malwan village.
“Some miscreants started spreading rumour that army has rescued hair cutter from one house,” a police statement said.
The police said that it was also clarified from the house owners that they didn’t catch any hair cutter, neither army rescued anyone from their home.
“Rumour mongers taking advantage of situation are trying to create fear psychosis amongst the people. These anti-social elements will be dealt with sternly under legal provisions,” police said.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police SP Vaid said that on the directions of CM Mufti they have formed a SIT to probe the incidents.
“We have formed an SIT and soon everything will be very clear,” said SP Vaid.
“Very soon a special investigation of Police, constituted to investigate hair-chopping incidents, will get true picture about them in Kashmir,” he said.
KV Correspondent
