KV Correspondent

Braid chopping: Three ‘rumor mongers’ held in Srinagar, says Police

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 Srinagar: Police today claimed to have arrested three youths accused of spreading rumours regarding braid chopping.

 According to the police, the two alleged rumour mongers were arrested for spreading rumours on Monday regarding braid chopping which led to the assault of four rag pickers as well as police party that had reached the spot to verify the matter in Nowgam area.

 “On October 9, miscreants at Gandbal village of Nowgam had floated a rumour that four persons from outside J&K who were roaming nearby were braid choppers. Soon, the outsiders were surrounded by a mob of 2000 persons who started abusing, beating and heckling them,” Police said.

 The police said that upon receipt of this information, police had rushed to the spot to verify the matter on that day. “Instead of helping police verify the matter, the mob led by miscreants indulged in heavy stone pelting upon the police party.”

 The police officer said that the outsiders were rescued and case with FIR number 116/2017 U/S 336, 353, 341 was registered in Police station Nowgam against Sajad Ahmad Parrey, Muzafer Ahmad Kalwatho, Shakeel Ahmad Dar and Bilal Ahmad, all residents of Soiteng.

 “During the course of the investigation, it was found that the four outsiders were rag pickers who have been working in Kashmir for many years now and were passing through Gandbal in the course of rag picking when a few miscreants with mischievous intent started shouting that they were braid choppers. Further investigation has uncovered the names of few persons who were instrumental in initiating and spreading the rumor,” the officer said.

 Two of the ‘rumor mongers’ namely Towseef Ahmad Dar of Padshahi Bagh Srinagar and Mir Musadiq of Lasjan have been detained, he said, adding that they have  “confessed to their role in spreading rumors and are being dealt with under relevant sections of penal code”.

 “More arrests are expected as police uncovers rest of the miscreants behind rumor mongering. Citizens are requested not to fall prey to rumors and are requested to dial 100 to inform police instead of taking matters into their own hands,” the police added.

 Meanwhile, police claimed to have arrested a rumour monger who has spread the rumour about the death of a girl after braid chopping incident.

“At around 5:48 pm a shocking rumour about the death of an allegedly braid chopped victim from Habbakadal Srinagar spread like the wild fire. Most of the people got panic and sense of insecurity and torments prevailed all over. People got emotional and started pelting stones at forces establishments and vehicles,” police said in a statement.

The statement said that Srinagar police swung into action and on testing the authenticity of the news it was found that it was a planned rumour just to generate the potential for civil unrest.

The police said that the miscreant was identified as Abid Hussain Saudagar.

“He was traced and arrested by Police Station Saffa Kadal from Armpora Nawakadal area”.


KV Correspondent

Kashmir Correspondent cover all daily updates for the newspaper

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