Mysterious braid choppers haunt Kashmir

srinagar — There have been over 120 reports of braid chopping in the Kashmir Valley in the last two months and despite the widespread fear and condemnation, the authorities appear clueless about the mysterious incidents that have caused a new type of terror in the troubled region.

The resulting confusion has given rise to brigades of youth in towns and villages who maintain nocturnal vigil in their areas. These vigilante mobs often end up beating innocent people before police and security come to their rescue. And in the heat of the moment, the security forces are blamed for protecting the culprits.

The inability of police to identify the culprits has provided fuel to rumour-mongers who allege that security forces are these unknown braid-choppers. Separatists have also accused the security forces of protecting the braid choppers amid denial by the authorities.

“With the largest presence of army, paramilitary and police, how come that not one braidchopper has been arrested so far? Isn’t it intriguing,” asked Muhammad Hussain, a resident of old city Srinagar.

Top officials of the police say unless the victims cooperate, the investigators would remain clueless about the motives behind such crimes.

In addition to setting up special investigation teams (SITs) in every district of the valley, the state government has announced a reward of Rs600,000 for anyone whose information leads to the arrest of a braid-chopper. The incidents of braid chopping were initially reported from south Kashmir areas but these have now spread wide.

Young girls, middle aged women and even a male preacher have suffered at the hands of the mysterious braid choppers in the valley as the sordid drama continues unabated. —