'Hysteric' mob tries immolating 'mentally challenged' man, drowning another in Dal

It is against Islam, Kashmiriyat: Naeem urges people to desist from collective violence

SRINAGAR: Their over-frenzied vigilantism over the alleged braid-chopping incidents in valley stopped to its lowest when in a shameful incident on Friday, a mob trashed a mentally challenged man black and blue, before trying to immolate him on the suspicion of him being a braid-chopper in Sopore area of Baramulla district, while another violent mob in Srinagar caught hold of a youth who had to offer Friday prayers at Hazratbal shrine, beating him to pulp before trying to kill him by sinking him into the waters.
However, the timely action of police rescued both of these men who were later proved to be innocent.
Giving details of both the incidents, Police said, it received information that an alleged "braid- chopper" has been nabbed by locals in the Fruit Mandi area of Sopore.
"Immediately, a police party rushed to spot and found that a mob was beating one person ruthlessly. The miscreants had also burnt some grass and were trying to set the person ablaze. Some miscreants were trying to run a tractor over him," the spokesman said.
The victim, identified as Wasim Ahmad Tantray, was rescued by the police team, he said, adding Tantray is "reportedly mentally challenged".
"Tantray was immediately rushed to a hospital in Sopore.
As the condition of the injured is stated to be critical, he was referred to a hospital in Srinagar," he said.
The spokesman said police have registered an FIR and identified those involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, in another shameful incident, a youth from Shopian who had come to University of Kashmir to meet his brother and offer Fajr prayers at Hazratbal shrine was beaten mercilessly by a mob on suspicion of braid chopper, before attempting to kill him by sinking him into the waters of Dal lake in Srinagar.
A police statement said that a protest was held at Hazratbal over the alleged overnight braid chopping incident in the locality. The protestors comprising of men, women and children were sloganeering against the incidents of alleged braid chopping in the Valley in general and Dargah in particular.
The police personnel without using any force persuaded the protestors to disperse and after lot of hectic efforts the protestors were dispersed and after dispersal some persons on reaching near the banks of Dal Lake caught hold of one person (name withheld) who had came to visit the Hazratbal mosque for prayers and accused him of being a braid chopper.
"The person tried hard to satisfy the people around him that he is not any braid chopper but had merely come to the shrine for prayers," the police said, adding, "But they (people) did not listen to him and accused him of being a braid chopper.
The protestors turned violent and got frenzied and in the meantime people from Dargah area in large numbers reached to the spot and started beating him ruthlessly.
The "violent mob" also tried to drown him in the waters of Dal Lake just to get his confession of being a braid chopper."
They tried to lynch him but police party reached on spot and rescued the person from being lynched, police said.
"The police party in a very professional manner rescued the person from being lynched and saved a precious life.
During the rescue violent mob pelted stones on the police party, however, police with the help of some respectable citizens was able to save the innocent person from being lynched," the police said, adding a case under relevant provisions of law has been registered and investigation taken up.
The heart-wrenching videos of attempted lynching, which had gone viral on various social networking has drawn sharp reactions from different section of society.
Minister for Public Works Naeem Akhtar on Friday cautioned people against demonstrating collective frenzied behaviour in the wake of the mass hysteria around braid-chopping.
Expressing his anguish at the latest incidents of Friday, the Minister said whether braid chopping is real or hysterical, physical or psychological, one thing has become clear, "We as people are the worst posters of what we claim to be -Kashmiris."
Neither Kashmir's ethos nor the teachings of the religion of Islam that we claim to be following, allows, much less recommend the kind of brutal behaviour that we display," said Akhtar.
The Minister termed it as an ethical crisis facing Kashmir. "It is a millstone around our neck and we alone can and must throw it away. You, me and every Kashmiri," he said.
Akhtar called on the people to desist from resorting to violence which is only harming people themselves.
"No braid chopper has been apprehended so far and it is the duty of the law enforcing agencies to nab the culprits. But numerous innocent persons have become the victims of our collective criminal behaviour. The Sopore incident, bone chilling as it is, is only the latest," said Akhtar.
"We are only proving those people right who want us painted black. Having reached here in our disastrous moral descent we will need no one to argue against us. And of course no one can argue in our favour too. Unless we introspect and speak up."
The Minister also urged the law enforcing agencies to restore the sense of security among the people in the wake of the fear-psychosis created around braid-chopping scare.
Pertinent to mention here that more than 130 braid-chopping incidents have been reported from various parts of Kashmir over the past one month but police has so far failed to make any arrest.
Special investigation teams have been set up to nab those involved in braid chopping, which has created fear psychosis among the people, especially the women folk.
The police have announced a reward of Rs 6 lakh for information leading to arrest of braid choppers.