‘Phantom barber’ scare continues
As more victims complain of braid cutting, cops warn people not to indulge in rumour mongering
ALLAHABAD: With 19 new cases of braid cutting causing panic in the rural parts of Allahabad and Pratapgarh districts, senior police officials have warned people not to indulge in rumourmongering.
In Holagarh town area in trans-Ganga region, a woman Guddi, wife of Guddu Kingaria, was busy in domestic chores when her braid was chopped off mysteriously.
Her family found her in an unconscious state and was admitted to the nearby community health centre.
In another incident, a girl Rama, 16, was at her home in Pipirsa village under Ghoorpur police station of trans-Yamuna area when she found her braid cut.
Sangeeta, wife of Rajendra Bhartiya, claimed her braid was chopped at her house in Dhokri village of Handia on Saturday afternoon. Archana of the same village made a similar complaint on Friday morning.
Other women who complained of hair-chopping on Saturday afternoon included Nageena of Sada village in Sarai Mamrez, Nisha (16) of Yasinpur village and two girls of the same family Gudia and Munni of Mugarsan village in Utraon area.
In Allahabad’s Phulpur area, Kalpana, daughter of Phulchandra of Habibpur village, and Sadhna of Tikuri village in Kaudihar complained of their hair being chopped off on Saturday.
In Baharia area, Priyanka, wife of Mahendra Yadav, claimed her braid was cut while she was combing her hair.
Two other women – Sita Verma, 34, and Usha Devi – residents of Ramaipur village in Sarai Inayat area also made similar complaints.
In trans-Yamuna area, Sarita Yadav, 26, of Tilakhwar village in Karchhana and Ruby Pandey, 25, of Lehbara village in Bara also found their hair chopped.
All the women fell unconscious after braid-cutting incidents and some of them were admitted to nearby hospitals.
SP, trans-Ganga, Sunil Kumar Singh said mischievous elements were spreading rumours.
“Strict action will be taken against such people”, he added.
In Pratapgarh, Anita Sharma (26) of Ashapur Athgawan village claimed her hair was chopped off late on Friday night. Suman, 30, of Rohada Kadai village, was found unconscious with her braid chopped off the same night.