Adil Lateef
Srinagar, Oct 21: Police arrested dozens of persons over the charges of assaulting security forces men and civilians caught on suspicion of being braid choppers while a shutdown amid restrictions was observed in Valley today.
The arrests which have been made in Baramulla, Kupwara and Srinagar districts of Valley came in the wake of random assaults on soldiers and civilians accused of allegedly chopping braids of women inside their houses. Police said “it has been revealed that some anti-social and anti-national elements are spreading rumours to achieve objectives of creating hatred among masses and security forces, disturb peace and achieve radical religious agenda by confining womenfolk inside their houses”.
SSP Kupwara Shamsheer Hussain said police in Kupwara arrested 10 persons who were allegedly involved in beating an Army man while two vehicles have been seized. He said on October 17, police received information of a braid chopping incident at Redii village of Chowkibal in Kupwara district.
“Later, it was learnt that an unruly mob of miscreants had caught hold of an Army man of 3rd JAKLI accusing him of being a braid chopper. Soon, police rushed to the spot and after strenuous efforts rescued the injured Army man who was immediately evacuated and shifted to 92 Base Hospital Srinagar for further treatment,” the SSP said.
The SSP Kupwara said during the course of investigation, it surfaced that after braid chopping incident, some ‘miscreants’ had alleged that braid cutter was an Army man and that after committing the offence, he had boarded the Army CASPER vehicle deployed on ROP duties.
“The rumour soon 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. It was only because of timely intervention of police the soldier was rescued in injured condition after which the miscreants started pelting stones on cops,” said the SSP.
He said soon after the incident, a case under relevant Sections of law was registered and investigation was set into motion. “So far 10 persons were arrested and two vehicles were also seized. 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,” the police officer claimed.
Speaking to reporters, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla, Imtiyaz Hussain said on October 18, an unruly mob caught hold of three Territorial Army men and “assaulted them mercilessly with an intention to kill”. “Thereafter, police rushed on spot and after strenuous efforts rescued the Army men in injured condition who were given immediate medical treatment.
“A case under FIR number 48 of 2017 under Sections of 307, 148, 149 RPC was registered. During investigation it surfaced that the three Territorial Army men were on board a passenger vehicle to withdraw money from ATM in Sheeri market in Baramulla district and get the search lights repaired,” he said.
The SSP said the trio had boarded the passenger vehicle at Kitchama and from the same spot a “notorious stone pelter” namely Qaiser Bilal Bhat also boarded the same passenger bus. “Qaiser hatched a conspiracy to get Army men killed by falsely accusing them as braid choppers. He raised hue and cry near Sheeri Market, and got a violent mob assembled who attacked the Army men,” he said.
The SSP said police have so far arrested 18 accused including the main conspirators in the case and recovered looted cash, ATM cards and mobile phones from them. The senior police officer said that a total of 45 “trouble and mischief mongers arrested in Baramulla police jurisdiction for creating disturbances in the name of braid chopping”.
In Sopore 12 persons have been arrested by police in connection with beating of mentally-ill youth yesterday.
SSP Sopore Harmeet Singh told reporters that police have arrested 12 persons during night raids. “We identified them through videos that went viral on social media. We have identified many other accused who are wanted and we will arrest them too,” he said.
Meanwhile, police have arrested three persons who were accused of beating civilians on suspicion of being braid choppers in Nishat area of Srinagar. A police spokesman said that residents of Akhoon Mohalla in Ishber Nishat captured two persons accusing them of being braid choppers.
“They were beaten and thrashed severely by the locals. However, as the police got to know about the incident, a police team promptly rushed to the spot and took custody of the ‘captured persons’. They were, however, let off after proper investigation and medical treatment,” he said.
He said police took the cognizance of the incident and a case under FIR number 54/2017 under relevant Sections of law was registered. “Number of people involved in the incident have been identified, out of which three main accused persons namely Basharat Maqbool, Ashiq Akhoon and Owais wani were arrested. More arrests are expected soon,” he said.
In southern Awantipora area of Pulwama district, police have arrested many youth after a cop was beaten to pulp by locals as they accused him of being a braid chopper. The cop identified as Zakir Hussain Malik was thrashed at Checkout village of Awantipora and was rescued by police, an official said, adding that police have rounded up many youths in this regard.
In Srinagar, police arrested 14 persons for allegedly spreading rumors of braid chopping. Police said 8 persons were arrested from Batamaloo while six others were held from Noorbagh. “These miscreants were spreading rumours on braid chopping and were causing panic among the people. They were taking advantage of braid chopping incidents to instigate general public for protest and stone pelting,” said the police spokesman.
In Dooru area of Anantnag district, said the police, a man affiliated with a political party enacted drama of braid chopping to “create law and order problem”. The police spokesman identified the man as Bill Ahmad Mir. “”He managed to muster support by using megaphone as well. Preliminary investigation itself revealed that it was a hoax trying to create a law and order situation. Police have taken cognizance and registered a case in this regard,” he said.
In the meanwhile, a shutdown on the call of separatists was observed across Kashmir today against braid cutting incidents. Police imposed restriction in Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Maisuma, Khanyar, Kralkhud and Safa Kadal areas of the city here to maintain law and order. While the day passed off peacefully, a youth was injured during clashes at Muchwa area on Srinagar outskirts. He sustained bullet in shoulder and is currently hospitalized.
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