With No Let Up In Braid Chopping Incidents, People Observe Shutdown And Staged Protests.

Nasir Khan Central Kashmir Bureau Chief

Srinagar:- Protests erupted at Narparistan Fathekadal in old Srinagar city over an overnight braid chopping incidents. the braid of a woman was chopped off by miscreants while during confrontation, the victim suffered fracture in neck. “The victim’s niece was earlier attacked few days back and her braid was also chopped off,” the witnesses said.

Large number of people took to roads at Botshah Mohalla Lal Bazar area of Srinagar city where the braid of a woman was chopped off on Monday evening. The protesters amid anti-police and anti-government slogans demanded the arrest of braid choppers.

Police lobbed tear smoke shells to disperse protesters at Rambagh Srinagar. The locals hit to roads and tried to disrupt the traffic after a braid chopping incident. Police swung into action and tear-gased protesters.

Braid chopping incidents continue to baffle people in Kashmir even as many parts of Valley witnessed shutdown and protests demanding arrest of miscreants involved in such uncivilized acts.

Maisuma locality in the heart of Srinagar city and its adjoining areas observed a shutdown while heavy presence of government forces was ensured there to maintain law and order. The movement of the people was restricted there using concertina wires. Shops and other business establishments remained shut in Maisuma, Gawkadal, Basant Bagh, Kokar Bazar, Budshah Chowk while Auqaf market too remained shut.

The police have formed Special Investigation Teams to probe the incidents. However, so far the police and the authorities have been clueless. The police have announced a reward of Rs six lakh for credible information leading to arrest of any person behind braid chopping incidents. So far, no arrests have been made. At several places, vigilante mobs have thrashed innocents mistaking them for braid choppers.