J&K mob tries to burn man on braid chopping rumour

SRINAGAR: A mob allegedly tried to set a mentally-challenged man on fire after thrashing him in north Kashmir’s Sopore on suspicion of being a ‘braid chopper’, the police said on Friday, even as the separatist leaders called for a shutdown on Saturday against continuing reports of women’s braids being cut by mystery assailants.

In a video, circulated on social media, the mob is heard shouting that the man, Wasim Ahmad Tantray, should be set on fire.

A spokesperson of the Sopore Police said they got reports that people had hold of an alleged braid chopper in the fruit ‘mandi’ area. When the police reached there, they found the mob “ruthlessly” beating up a person.

“A police party rushed to spot and found that a mob was beating one person ruthlessly. The miscreants had also burnt some grass and were trying to set the person ablaze. Some miscreants were trying to run a tractor over him,” the spokesman said.

Tantray’s condition is critical and he has been shifted to a hospital in Srinagar, the spokesperson added. The police have registered an FIR and the culprits have been identified.

Former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, tweeted a picture of the bloody face of the victim and wrote: “Mehbooba Mufti please look at this face. This is what happens when you absolve yourself of the responsibility to lead &let vigilantes take over.”

POLICE FOUND THE MOB RUTHLESSLY BEATING A MAN. THE MISCREANTS ALSO TRIED TO SET HIM ON FIRE, AND TO RUN A TRACTOR OVER HIM