No breakthrough in braid chopping cases, protests continue in Kashmir

Business, other activities came to a grinding halt in the Civil Lines after people hit the streets following fresh braid chopping incident in Maisuma area Monday afternoon. Protestors, including students and lawyers, also took to the streets at various places in the Kashmir Valley, where there is no letup in braid chopping incidents despite directions to the police by the High Court to intensify patrolling and adopt the technique of crime mapping to nab those culprits involved in these crimes. Scores of youth took to the streets at Maisuma, stronghold of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), as the news of braid chopping of a girl spread in the area.

Shouting slogans, the youth tried to march towards Lal Chowk. However, security forces burst teargas shells to disperse them, who resorted to stone pelting. Following clashes, shopkeepers downed shutters and other business activities also came to a halt in Maisuma, Lal Chowk and adjoining areas. Hundreds of protestors, including women, hit the streets at Sheeri in Baramulla, where braid of a girl was cut by unidentified culprits for the second time in three days on Monday. Meanwhile, scores of lawyers took out a protest rally from district court to the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Baramulla against braid chopping incidents in the Valley.

Reports of clashes also came from Hawal in downtown Srinagar, where students of Islamia College fought a pitched battle with security forces Monday afternoon. Reports of clashes were also reported from other parts of the valley, including Sopore. Earlier in the day, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Muneer Khan on Monday once again cited non-cooperation of victims and their families the reason behind no headway in the braid chopping incident.

However, he said blood tests of victims will be conducted to ascertain the composition of the spray used during these crimes. “It could give vital clues as to who are behind such crimes,” he told reporters here. So far about 100 braid chopping incidents have been reported in the Valley, where such cases have created panic among people. Many women living in various parts of the Valley have stopped going to morning and evening walks fearing braid chopping.