COPS CALL BRAID CHOPPINGS IN J&K A PLOY TO TARGET FORCES

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday raised the bounty from ₹3 lakh to ₹6 lakh for anyone providing information about braid chopping incidents in the Valley, fearing the incidents could be used to spark antiIndia sentiments.

“In Kashmir, rumours are being spread that security forces are behind these incidents,” Jammu and Kashmir director general of police SP Vaid said.

“The incidents seem similar to what was happening in the rest of the country. But here there is a chance that separatists and terrorists may use the incidents to their benefit,’’ Vaid said.

The police had also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incidents. However, there have been no leads so far.

Clashes erupted in Anantnag district of south Kashmir on Saturday following braid-chopping incidents in adjoining Kulgam district.

The latest incident took place in Nihama area of Kulgam where the braid of a woman, a mother of three, was chopped off.

Five incidents were reported in south and central Kashmir on Friday.

Police say more than 50 incidents were reported in Jammu region before spilling to Kashmir more than a week ago.

Braid-chopping incidents were also reported from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the past two months.

SRINAGAR: In Kashmir, rumours are being spread that security forces are behind the incidents. They seem similar to what was happening in the rest of the country. But here there is a chance that separatists and terrorists may use the incidents to their benefit.