SrinagarA near total public response to Hurriyat call for a Civil Curfew paralysed normal life on Saturday across Kashmir Valley with sporadic protests reported from scores of areas.
The call was to register protest against unabated attacks on women which the government and police dismiss as Mass Hysteria and separatist and civil society calls organised attack on dignity of Kashmiri women.
In much of Srinagar and major towns police had imposed restrictions to prevent any protests. Still protests broke out and at least in one city area government forces opened fire on a demonstration. One 16 year old youth was hospitalised with a bullet injury, reports said.
The areas falling under the jurisdiction of seven police station: Safa Kadal, MR Gunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Maisuma, Nowhatta, Kralkhud, Khanyar and Kralkhud were sealed off. Hundreds of police and CRPF men were deployed in these areas who enforced the curbs strictly.
According to witnesses, the roads and streets in restrictions-bound areas wore a deserted look with only uniformed armed personnel visible. In other areas of the city, skeletal movement of private vehicles was seen but markets remained shut.
Hundreds of forces men were deployed in Lal Chowk commercial hub throughout the day. All the shops, commercial establishments and educational institutes remained closed here.
The Joint Resistance Leadership led by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin had called for civil curfew on Saturday against braid chopping incidents.
Reports said that complete shutdown was observed in all the districts and town of Kashmir Valley.
All exams scheduled for Saturday had been postponed by the University of Kashmir.
There have been over 120 reports of braid chopping incidents in the Kashmir Valley in the last two months, with mobs beating up strangers, tourists and even Army men in plainclothes and militants on suspicion of being braid choppers.
Train service was suspended for security reasons in wake of shutdown on Saturday.
2 More Braid Chopping Incidents on Saturday
A fresh braid chopping incident sparked protest in North Kashmirs Bandipora district. Reports said that braid of a 35-year-old woman was chopped off in Nowpora locality of the district.
They said that some unknown person attacked the woman (name withheld) near main gate of her house, making her unconscious and left after chopping her hair.
She was going to unlock the main gate of the house around 6:30 am when she was attacked by an unknown person. After chopping her hair, the person fled. He also stole her gold earring,” they said.
At Ahmednagar locality in the outskirts of Srinagar city, the braid of a woman was chopped off by miscreants, triggering protests. The protesting locals demanded the immediate arrest of braid choppers.
Cooperating with police the locals in Central Kashmirs Ganderbal district handed over at least six suspects who were roaming in suspicious manner to police.
The incident occurred in Repora village of Ganderbal district.
It is quite appreciable that locals handed over these men to us without taking law into their own hands. During investigation it revealed that accused hail from Sadarkote Bala of Bandipora district. One among these six friends had arrived in the area to meet a local friend, he said adding that they were not braid choppers.
Hair of over 100 women and young girls has been mysteriously chopped off across the Valley during past month.
These girls and women have told their families and police that unknown persons cut their hair after knocking them unconscious with some spray.
The police have formed Special Investigation Teams to probe the incidents. However, so far the police and the authorities have been clueless.
The police have announced a reward of Rs six lakh for credible information leading to arrest of any person behind braid chopping incidents. So far, no arrests have been made.
At several places, vigilante mobs have thrashed innocents mistaking them for braid choppers.
The growing incidents have forced people to form local committees in every locality who remain awake throughout the night to ensure no braid cutting incident occurs.
These incidents have already created fear psychosis across Kashmir with fear griping the wmen folk who find it very difficult to venture out of their homes.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
