J&K: Mob Beats Mentally Challenged Man Mistaken for Braid Chopper

An Army jawan was beaten up by a mob on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara town on suspicion of being a braid chopper.

(Photo: The Quint)

A "mentally deranged" man was rescued from a mob which was trying to kill him suspecting that he was a braid-chopper, in Sopore area of the Baramulla district of north Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Friday.

Police received information that an alleged "braid- chopper" has been nabbed by locals in the Fruit Mandi area of Sopore, 52 kms from Srinagar, a police spokesman said.

Immediately, a police party rushed to spot and found that a mob was beating one person ruthlessly. The miscreants had also burnt some grass and were trying to set the person ablaze. Some miscreants were trying to run him over with a tractor.

Police Spokesperson

The victim, identified as Wasim Ahmad Tantray, was rescued by the police team, he said, adding Tantray is "reportedly mentally challenged".

Tantray was immediately rushed to a hospital in Sopore. As the condition of the injured is stated to be critical, he was referred to a hospital in Srinagar.

The spokesman said police have registered an FIR and identified those involved in the incident.

More than 130 braid-chopping incidents have been reported from various parts of Kashmir over the past one month but police has failed to make any arrests so far.

Special investigation teams have been set up to nab those involved in braid chopping, which has created fear psychosis among the people, especially among women.

The police have announced a reward of Rs 6 lakh for information leading to arrest of braid choppers.

Wasim Ahmad Tantray was rescued by the police team.

Following this incident, another man was beaten up upon similar suspicions on Friday afternoon.

The man was there at the Hazratbal dargah to offer prayers when a couple of men started beating him up and tried to drown him into the Dal lake, suspecting him of being a braid chopper.

(With inputs from PTI)

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