Mob frenzy: Another man targeted for being a ‘braid chopper’
Srinagar: An allegedly burqa-clad man, who was reported to be a transgender was mistaken as braid chopper and thrashed by the locals of Awantipora on Thursday, reports said.
The locals alleged that as the “braid chopper” was being questioned when police rescued him by firing teargas shells on them.
However, police officials said that soon after the incident a police party reached the spot and took the person in custody who was being ruthlessly beaten by the people.
“When police reached the spot, people hurled stones on the police and refused to hand over the ‘accused’ person to the police,” SP Awantipora said.
The person was identified as Omar Farooq son of Farooq Ahmad Sheikh and is a resident of Noorpora Tral.
Police said that on being questioned, he revealed that he was carrying a bag which contained Burqa for his sister who was waiting for him in the market.
“When the miscreants caught hold of him and found a burqa from the bag, they thrashed him mercilessly, SP Zahid said.
To the claims of locals that police resorted to tear smoke shelling on the protestors, he said that the locals had halted the traffic movement on the highway and police used tear gas shelling when they hurled stones on the police.
KV Correspondent
