By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: Over the last one month, Kashmir has been in news, but not for protests. It is witnessing a series of incidents that have never been reported before in its history, and the targets are Kashmiri women. The stories may vary from person to person, but the crime is the same: some unknown person(s) enter a house, spray some liquid and chops off the braid of women.
More than 150 cases of braid-cutting incidents have been reported from across the Kashmir, leaving the residents scared and confused about the people behind the series of incidents. Some people believe it to be the handiwork of Indian agencies, while Police feels that the incidents are mere illusions.
The first incident of braid cutting in the valley was reported from Anantnag district on September 6, when a woman was approached by a stranger, who sprayed an unidentified liquid on her face, leaving her unconscious. When she woke up, her braid had been chopped off.
According to Police, more than 200 such cases have been reported from across the valley in last one and a half months.
The latest incident was reported on Saturday, September 21 in Nowpora locality of Bandipora district where a 35-year-old woman, who claimed being attacked by some unknown persons while she was standing at her gate. Her hair too was chopped off and she was too was sprayed with a liquid which left her unconscious.
The incidents have created a law and order problem in the Valley with locals attacking random people suspecting them of braid choppers, thus resorting to vigilantism. In one such incident, a mentally deranged youth was beaten by a crowd in Sopore area of north Kashmir on September 20, after he failed to explain his presence in the area. The people were ready to burn him alive when the police intervened and saved him.
“He was surrounded by a mob of 500-800 people. They were trying to set him ablaze. Because of timely action by police, he was rescued and shifted to Srinagar where he is in critical condition,” the Superintendent of Police, Sopore, Harmeet Singh told media persons.
On October 6, two local youths were beaten by locals in Nishat area of Srinagar city when they had gone to collect material from one of their customer’s house.
On October 17, a Territorial Army man was beaten by locals in Kupwara after suspected of being a braid chopper.
On October 21, a J&K Police personnel was thrashed by the locals Awantipur after locals mistook him as a braid chopper. Later police had to come to his rescue and assure locals that he was not one among them.
Many such cases of mob vigilantism are being reported from across the valley as the incident of hair cutting is pouring in almost every day. The locals have switched over to night patrols armed with sticks and rods.
“Youths in our locality have made teams and they patrol the streets every night, so that braid choppers don’t enter our localities,” said Ghulam Hassan, 45 from Kakapora in Pulwama district. “People are in fear and no one has been caught as yet, so people are making all the guesses who could be behind these incidents.”
The police have also arrested more than 100 persons from across the valley alleging them of rumour mongering.
The women in Kashmir are clearly worried and angry, with these incidents restricting their movement outside their homes.
“I live in fear 24 hours a day. I don’t stay alone in the room. I work in a dental clinic and I always try to find someone who could accompany me to the office. Same is the case with my friends,” said Shazia Hafiz, who lives in Chanpora locality of Srinagar.
The incidents have taken a political turn, with the opposition parties and members trying to cash in on the situation. The Congress party has described the unabated braid cutting as a ploy to disturb peace in the state.
“The state government has failed to ensure the safety of common people, besides that, the people are being pushed to the wall by one way or the other way, for no fault of theirs,” the party.
CPI (M) MLA from Kulgam district, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has sought an explanation from the government over the incidents.
“Movement of women, especially of girls has been restricted and their attendance in educational institutions has been affected,” he said. “In my constituency of Kulgam alone, nearly twenty such incidents have been reported so far. It has been reported that some unknown persons catch hold of lonely women, even in the interior of their houses, sprinkle some anaesthetic substances on their faces, cut off their braids and escape.”
Meanwhile, the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) on Monday, September 23rd held a sit-in protest urging the state government to initiate a crackdown on braid choppers at earliest. The EJAC termed the incidents as an attack on the dignity of mothers, sisters and daughters.
On Saturday, October 21, the valley observed a complete shutdown in response to the separatist call for bandh against the growing incidents of braid chopping. In a meeting held on the same day under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, three teams of medical experts to study the alleged braid chopping cases in Kashmir have been constituted to prepare a comprehensive report.