Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday said the “anti-social elements” are trying to create law and order situation in Kashmir.
Police said the department is not only investigating the braid chopping incidents “but also studying the cases occurred outside the state.”
Local news gathering agency KNS quoted Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Range, Munir Ahmad Khan as saying that the “anti-social elements” are taking advantage of the situation in Kashmir.
“The anti-social elements are trying to create law and order situation, besides creating fear psychosis among the people,” he said.
The IGP said the “innocents” mistaken as braid choppers are being beaten blue and black. “We have arrested several persons involved in thrashing of innocents. Eight persons were also arrested from Srinagar and all the arrested persons have criminal record. Strict action will be taken against the persons who are involved in thrashing of innocents,” he said.
Khan also appealed the senior citizens of the respective localities to think “where they are heading”.
“I appeal to the people, don’t pay heed to the rumours. Innocents shouldn’t be thrashed and people should cooperate with the Police. I don’t claim that we (police) are angels but if we see, these things led to the sufferings of a common person,” he said.
The IGP said that different statements are coming to fore over the braid cutters as “some claim they use spring shoes, black jackets, while some claim they jump from the rooftops or fled from the spot through the walls. If this is the issue then these are the unnatural things.”
Khan said they are seriously pursuing the cases of braid chopping incidents. “I believe none of the state has followed the braid chopping case seriously as we are following,” he said, as per the KNS.
He said these incidents occurred in other states as well while the experts including the doctors investigated the matter thoroughly. “The doctors’ finding outside the state in this regard revealed that these incidents are mass hysteria,” he said.
Ruing the lack of cooperation by the victims and their families, IGP Kashmir said, “It is difficult to find out the facts without getting a proper cooperation by the victims and their families. Whenever we will get the proper support, we will investigate the matter properly.”
He said that following the HC directions in this regard, they have started mapping of the localities where these incidents occurred. “Due to the lack of cooperation by the victims, we have also started scientific investigation in this regard. We have started collecting the blood samples of the victims and the hair samples were also sent to the FSL to get a proper lead,” he said.