Police in knots over hair thief identity

Kashmir offers Rs600,000 as bounty for clues about cases that have escalated to 50 in 15 days

Jammu and Kashmir Police yesterday announced a bounty of Rs600,000 (Dh33,684) for information on the mysterious braidchopping incidents that have gripped the Valley, fearing that they could incite violence and anti-India protests.

“Incidents of mysterious braid cutting occurred in south and central Kashmir. Police announce reward up to Rs6 lakh [Rs600,000] for [information] on people behind [the] incidents,” Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police S.P. Vaid told Gulf News.

The police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the incidents.

“Several girls and women have complained to us of their braid[s] being chopped off. They say someone uses a spray to make them unconscious and cuts off their hair. Taking a note of that, special police teams have been deputed in Anantnag and Kulgam districts of Kashmir. Several helpline numbers have also been set up,” Vaid said.

As many as 50 incidents of braid-chopping have been reported from the state in the last 15 days. The police said they are also studying incidents of braid chopping in other parts of India.

“We are looking into all such incidents as well as history of victims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu to get to the root of the issue. Almost 1,500 cases of braid-cutting were reported across India, but not a single person has been arrested.

“We have taken every step humanly possible to find out who is behind braid-chopping incidents in Kashmir,” Inspector General (IG) of Police Muneer Khan told media.

He said a team of doctors had been sent to Kulgam to speak to recent victims.

Checkpoints set up

“First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered in 32 cases of braid-chopping across Kashmir. None has been arrested in Kashmir also,” Khan told media.

He said there was fear among women in the Valley but all possible preventive measures were already in place. “We have set up control rooms, help cells, and kept our men alert in every police station,” the IG said.

On Sunday, state Chief Minister (CM) Mehbooba Mufti said the mysterious case would be cracked soon.

“We are trying our best to crack the case,” she said.