Cashing in on the growing public anger against the mysterious chopping of braids of women in Kashmir, the separatist Joint Resistance Leadership have said such incidents were a ''well-planned conspiracy'' and called for shutdown on Monday, in protest against such incidents.
In a statement, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik urged people to observe a complete shutdown on Monday and be vigilant.
“Now, raising voice against braid chopping incidents which has left the women folk of Kashmir in a deep shock, seems to be a crime for the government that terms everything as a law and order situation and justifies its curbs and huge deployment of forces to scuttle the peaceful protest programs,” the Mirwaiz spokesman said.
Since last one month, many incidents of braid chopping of women were reported across Kashmir. The incidents have evoked widespread condemnation and also created unease among the public, especially women.
Protests were held in various parts of Kashmir against the chopping of braids. The protesters also clashed with police and CRPF also some places.
The students of women's college at M A Road held a protest against the braid chopping and demanded action against those involved.
Braids of several young girls and women in many parts of the Valley were mysteriously found chopped during the past month.
The victims told their families and police that their braids were cut after they were rendered unconscious with a spray.
The police have constituted special investigation teams to get to the bottom of the matter, but have failed to make any headway thus far.
The police have also announced a reward of Rs 6 lakh for information about those responsible for braid chopping.
A few suspects were later proven innocent. Some of them caught by the public were found to be desperate lovers loitering in the localities of their girlfriends.
“In most of the cases, we have not been provided support by the victims or close family members,'' said DIG Kashmir Ghulam Hassan Bhat. ''People may be reluctant to go to the police stations, so we decided a lady police officer would be available to examine the victims and record their statements.''
He said that it was not possible for police to come to a particular conclusion in each case without public support.
He said the police examined and interrogated all accused handed over to them, but not one of them was found involved in the chopping of braids.
An elderly man became the first casualty of the growing anger against the braid chopping in Anantnag, after people suspected him to be a braid chopper.
Abdul Salam Wani, 70, was hit by a brick when he walked out to attend nature’s call at Danter village of Anantnag on Thursday night. Wani suffered grievous head wounds and was shifted to district hospital in Anantnag where he succumbed the next day.
Police suspects the hand of his kin in Wani’s killing.
SSP Anantnag, Altaf Ahmad Khan, said they have taken cognizance of the case and are probing the matter.
Jammu division alone has witnessed 192 cases of hair chopping and Kashmir more than 50 incidents in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal. Police, so far, have registered 23 cases of braid chopping and one beard chopping.
