Mysterious braid chopping incidents continue to give sleepless nights to whole Kashmir populace while victims both young and elderly have been under massive mental stress. The increasing incidents have been sparking protests and even clashes in different parts of Valley.Reports said that an overnight braid chopping incident sparked shutdown and protests in Hazratbal area of Srinagar on Thursday morning.According to locals the braid of a woman was chopped off at Dhobi Mohalla on Wednesday night. Reports said that the residents took to streets and staged massive protests against the increasing braid-cutting incidents.Two incidents of braid-cutting have taken place in the area in past week.Meanwhile, shops and other commercial establishments remained closed in the area.Joint Resistance Leadership and Jammu Kashmir Mass Movement held a protest here in Srinagar city. The protesters in these two protests castigated government for acting mute spectator. They alleged that government and police have miserably failed to expose the criminals involved in braid chopping incidents.The protesters were holding placards with messages urging an end to braid-cutting attacks. “Stop Braid Chopping”, “Attacks on dignity of daughter not acceptable” and “Attacks on Kashmiri women and braid chopping is a ploy to intimidate Kashmiris” were some of messages written on placards.
Lesser known, All India Rahul Gandhi Association also held a protest in Press Enclave Srinagar and asked government to expose the criminals behind these braid chopping incidents.Witnesses reported that people took to roads in Beerwah area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district after a fresh braid chopping incident. The victim according to locals was the same girl whose braid was chopped two weeks back. The protesters raised massive slogans against police and the government.Protest was also held against an overnight braid chopping incident at Lari-Preng area of Kangan town of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. The braid of a middle aged woman was chopped off by miscreants on Wednesday sparking nocturnal protests.Pertinently, over a 100 incidents of braid chopping have occurred in different parts of Kashmir Valley during the past month while police is still clueless.The victims have told their families and police that unknown persons cut their hair after knocking them unconscious with some spray.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. (CNS)