SrinagarThe mysterious ‘braid choppers’ in the Kashmir Valley are emerging as an alibi for some people to get out of their troubles or settle scores, debunking the theory floated by anti-national elements that put the blame for the panic wave on central agencies, the state police said.
The J&K police has detected cases where people have beaten up their business rivals, stalkers and even migrant labourers on suspicions of them being braid choppers.
The recent ‘braid chopper’ episodes that have triggered panic in the Valley are being claimed by the separatists as the handiwork of central agencies to divert attention from their anti-national agenda and demand of ‘Azadi’.
However, in a number of cases, the police have found that people have used the excuse to escape from their own troubles. Director General of Police SP Vaid says it is a mass hysteria that is being generated by certain vested interests to whip up tension in the Valley.
“Some people are accusing security forces of braid chopping in the Valley only to create an unrest. We have formed teams in every area to provide assistance but people who make such allegations don’t step forward for help.
“We have a team of additional deputy commissioner, deputy superintendent of Police and a lady doctor in every district. We have to examine the victims who claim braid chopping. They have to step forward and allow us to carry out psychological analysis. But that does not happen,” Vaid said.
He also said that in various cases it was found that some people who were beaten for being alleged braid choppers turned out to be cases involving either persons having a love affair or a business or a personal rivalry or the matter involved high charges for labour work. “This trend has emerged and will not be tolerated. Police will take strict action in such cases,” Vaid said.
Vaid said “people are requested not to fall prey to rumours and let me make it clear that strict legal action will be taken against attention seekers in the garb of braid chopping. Rumour mongers and mischief mongers will also be brought to book who take advantage of the situation to disturb the peaceful atmosphere.”
According to the police, nearly 103 such incidents have taken place, out of which 63 related to people who are either taking treatment for mental illness or under the influence of local god-men.
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