Clashes rock uptown Srinagar against fresh braid chopping incident

Security forces on Tuesday morning burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators, who were protesting against fresh braid chopping incident in uptown Srinagar. There has been no letup in braid chopping incidents in Kashmir valley despite the J&K High Court directing police to intensify patrolling and adopting the technique of crime mapping to nab those culprits involved in these crimes.

Though, the police have now decided to conduct blood tests of the braid chopping victims to ascertain the composition of the spray used in the crime in Kashmir, where over 100 such cases have been reported. “It could give vital clues as to who are behind such crimes,” Inspector General of Police, Kashmir range, Muneer Khan said on Monday. Scores of youth took to streets at Rambagh and adjoining areas in uptown as the news of braid chopping of a woman spread in the area.

Shouting slogans against the government for its failure to curtail the incidents, the protesting youth blocked the roads leading to Nowgam and Chanapora. However, security forces deployed in the area burst teargas shells to disperse the protestors, who resorted to stone pelting. Following clashes, shopkeepers downed shutters and other business activities also came to a halt in Rambagh, Natipora and adjoining areas. The vehicles ferrying devotees to attend the Urs of Hazrat Sheikh Nooruddin Wali at Charar-e-Sharief in central Kashmir district of Budgam had to take Sanantnagar bypass route due to clashes in Rambagh.

Yesterday, business, other activities came to a grinding halt in the Civil Lines after people hit the streets following a braid chopping incident in Maisuma, strong hold of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). Protests have become a daily norm in the valley, including in educational institutes, against failure of the government to curtail braid chopping incidents and develop a sense of security among locals. So far over 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.