SRINAGAR: People in Malwan Kulgam on late Monday claimed the army rescued an alleged braid chopper, whom they said they had apprehended near the nearby graveyard outside a mosque in the village. Civil administration said they have ordered investigations into the allegations.
Local residents said that they had been following a suspicious man for the last two days, who they claimed was behind the mysterious braid chopping incidents in the village. The “man” in question is being refered to many as “bhoot”, the ghost.
“As we were going towards Masjid to perform Isha prayers, some people caught hold of the person. However, he hit one of them with a stick and raised hue and cry,” one resident said.
The noises and the commotion alarmed the nearby army men who were patrolling in their vehicles, they said. The men in uniform came running towards the spot and fired in the air to disperse the people who were trying to get hold of the alleged braid chopper.
Local sources added that the soldiers tried to rescue the braid-chopper, as “he was their own man”.
DC, Kulgam, Talat Ahmad told Kashmir Life that he has directed the concerned SHO to take cognizance of the incident and start investigations. “Yes, people are alleging that they caught hold of the braid-chopper. I have assured them that the incident would be investigated.”
However, he said that the army vehicles were passing through the area and people pelted stones on them to flee.
Latest reports from the area said that people are scared and have assembled in the main chowk and are raising slogans.
Kulgam witnessed the highest number of braid chopping incident. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Ms Mehbooba Mufti had directed police to investigate these incidents.
(Photographs used in this story have no direct relevance to the contents)
