Mob protesting braid chopping attacks army, 2 hit by bullets

SRINAGAR: Two people suffered bullet injuries after security forces opened fire on pro testers who pelted stone sat them in Pahalgam area of An ant nag district on Wednesday, a senior police officer told HT.

“There were protests in the area against allegations of ‘braid chopping’ and army personnel were passing through the area. Protesters pelted stones at them and they opened fire in retaliation. Two persons suffered bullet injuries but they are out of danger,” the officer said.

An official response from the army is awaited.

The incident comes on the heels of continuing chaos in Kashmir Valley in connection to ‘braid chopping’—a phrase used to describe the mysterious phenomenon of several women claiming that unknown men attack them and cut off their hair.

On Tuesday, a soldier was thrashed in Kupwara district of north Kashmir after locals alleged that he was a “braid chopper ”. Vigilante groups have emerged in almost every locality of the Valley in an attempt to safeguard their areas but local sand outsiders have faced their brunt.

MAN BRANDS DRIVER ASBRAID-CHOPPER

Police in Kupwara booked a man for passing his driver off as a braid-chopper, who was then beaten up by locals, in order to avoid paying him wages. Jameel Ahmad Dar used to work as a tractor driver and his employer, Mohammad Sultan Lone, of Kral gun dowed him remuneration of ₹50,000, a police spokesperson said. On October 16, when Dar went to Lone’s house to get money, the latter refused. Lone labelled Dar as a braid-chopper and created a scene, which attracted the attention of other villagers who beat him up.