10 arrested, 2 vehicles seized in Kupwara

JAMMU: Following Army's resentment and mounting pressure after a jawan was thrashed by a mob as 'braid chopper', the Kupwara police on Saturday arrested ten miscreants and seized two vehicles for their alleged involvement in the incident that took place four days ago.
The crackdown had started after army showed strong resentment with police for thrashing jawan after labeling him as braid chopper. Be it a planned assault or mistaken identity, the army's resentment was expected as frenzied mob knowing that the individual was an army jawan started thrashing him some four days ago.
Police said, "The incident occurred on October 17, when a braid chopping incident was reported from village Redii Chowkibal following which an unruly mob caught hold of an army jawan of 3rd JAKLI accusing him of being a braid chopper. He however was rescued by the timely intervention of local Police.
"During the course of investigation, it surfaced that after the incident, some miscreants alleged that the braid chopper was an Army man and who after committing the offence had boarded the Army CASPER vehicle deployed on ROP duties."
"The rumour spread like a wild fire and the miscreants caught hold of an Army man and started thrashing him ruthlessly with an intention to kill him," he said, adding, "it was only because of timely intervention of police party headed by SHO Police Station Kralpora from Police Station Kralpora rescued the injured Army man and was shifted to 92 Base hospital Srinagar for further treatment whilst the miscreants started pelting stones on the police party."
SSP Kupwara Shemsher Hussain said the situation was handled with due care and SOP was implemented to disperse the violent mob.
"Meanwhile a case under relevant sections of law were registered and investigation set into motion and 10 persons have been arrested so far and also two vehicles have been seized," he added
SSP Kupwara Mr Hussain said that the investigations further proved that neither the lady whose braid was chopped off nor any of her family members had seen any Army personnel either in the house where the incident took place or elsewhere.
"No person has come forward claiming to have seen the Army personnel running from the house towards the road where the CASPER vehicle was stationed, he added.
He further said that during the investigation of these alleged braid chopping cases, it has been revealed that some anti-social/anti-national elements are raising false rumours to achieve three objectives including disturbing peace and tranquility in district, to create hatred among masses about Police/SFs and to create fear and uncertainty among women folk.
Urging people not to take law in their hand, he said, "People are requested not to pay heed to any such baseless rumours and help Police to create conducive and peaceful atmosphere and give confidence to our women to overcome the fear psychosis so that anti-social elements may not exploit the situation arising out of present circumstances.