Braid chopping phenomenon: Vigilante mob kills 70 year old man in South Kashmir
A 70-year-old man was killed by a vigilante mob after he was mistaken as braid chopper in Anantnag district of South Kashmir.
According to the reports, a man identified as Abdul Salam Wani was hit by a brick in Danter village of Islamabad district last night after people mistook him as a braid chopper. He was shifted to district hospital Anantnag where from he was referred to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences at Soura in a critical condition. He succumbed to injuries at SKIMS at Soura.
According to police, Abdul Salam Wani of Danter village had come out of his house in the wee hours of Friday to answer the call of nature, however, a vigilante mob outside mistook him for a braid chopper and hit him with a brick.
“He died instantly,” a police officer said.
Interestingly, local people have set up vigilante mobs to keep surveillance against braid choppers in different areas of Kashmir Valley.
Meanwhile, the incidents of braid chopping continue to haunt the people across the valley. According to the reports, the braid of a 40-year-old woman was chopped off by some unidentified persons in outskirts of Srinagar.
Reports said that a 40 years old woman’s braid was chopped today at 6:30 am in the morning at Pantha Chowk Srinagar. She was shifted to the hospital in critical condition as she fainted during the assault on her. After the incident people took to the streets and staged a protest.
Meanwhile, in a strange incident, a beard chopping incident was reported in the central district of Budgam. Sources said that unidentified persons chopped the beard of a local priest in Char-e-Sharief area of the district.
According to the reports, the local priest of a mosque in Futlipora village of Chrar-e-Sharief area in Budgam district was on his way to lead the morning prayers when his beard was chopped off by unknown persons.
“His beard was chopped off early morning when he was headed for the mosque,” a local said. The priest was identified as Gulam Nabi Gorsi.
In another incident, 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.
In another incident braid of a 42 year old woman was chopped in Nowgam are of Srinagar city. The incident led to intense clashes between people and the police as people tried to stage a protest against the incident.
The protestors alleged that police tried to disrupt the protest by resorting to lathi charge.
Meanwhile, massive clashes and protests erupted across Kashmir against the increasing incidents of braid chopping.
Three youth were injured after clashes erupted in Anantnag town of south Kashmir after youth came on streets to protest against the braid chopping incidents.
The clashes erupted after youth in Lal Chowk and Reshi Bazar areas took a protest rally after the Friday prayers.
The paramilitary troopers deployed in the area tried to intercept the protesting youth by firing tear gas shells, triggering clashes.
The two of the three injured were identified as Bilal Ahmad Dar son of Nazir Ahmad Dar and Sara Begum wife of Gulam Muhammad Wagey of Qazi Mohalla Anantnag.
Pertinently, on the call of joint resistance leadership, scores of JRL activists appeared in Press Enclave Srinagar and raised slogans against the government. They said, “Government agencies were behind such incidents in the valley.”
The police foiled their march and arrested many protesters who were later shifted to Kothi Bagh Police station.
Women in Sarai Bala area of the business hub Lal Chowk in capital city Srinagar also took out a protest march and tried to march towards civil secretariat. However, police stopped them from moving ahead.
In Soura area of the capital city, people held protests against braid chopping in Valley.
“People held anti-braid chopping protests in Anchar area of Soura,” eyewitnesses said.
Meanwhile, government authorities snapped the mobile internet services to avoid any rumour-mongering about the braid chopping incidents.
KV Correspondent
