The crackdown comes after a frenzied mob mistook mentally -challenged Wasim Ahmad Tantray as a braid chopper and tried to burn him alive and run a tractor over him in Sopore.
Jammu and Kashmir police launched a massive crackdown against vigilante groups on Saturday and arrested more than 70 people for assaulting locals and soldiers after branding them braid choppers. The arrested people also allegedly spread rumors to fan protests and stone-pelting in the valley.
Around 12 people were arrested in overnight raids in Sopore. The crackdown comes after a frenzied mob mistook mentally -challenged Wasim Ahmad Tantray as a braid chopper and tried to burn him alive and run a tractor over him in Sopore.
"We have arrested 12 people so far. More than 15 have been identified and are absconding. They will soon be arrested. We have booked them for attempt to murder, rioting and stone pelting", said Harmeet Singh, senior superintendent of police, Sopore.
Police have arrested 45 people, including the 18 involved in stripping and thrashing three army men after de-boarding them from a bus at Sheeri village of Baramulla district on Wednesday.
"When we investigated, we found a notorious stone-pelter, Kaiser Bilal, was also traveling in the same bus to get three jawans killed. He stopped the bus at Sheeri and spread rumours that they are braid choppers. Police reached the spot and rescued the jawans. We have arrested 18 people including the main accused, Kaiser Bilal," said Mir Imtiyaz Hussain, Senior Superintendent of Police, Baramulla.
Police arrested 14 people for spreading rumours.
"Eight persons were arrested from Batamaloo area while six were held from Noorbagh. These people were spreading rumours on braid chopping and causing panic among people. These rumour-mongers were taking advantage of braid chopping incidents to instigate the general public for protests and stone pelting", said a police officer.
Ten miscreants involved in stripping and thrashing an army soldier after branding him braid chopper at Redii village of North Kashmir's Kupwara district on October 17 were arrested. Two vehicles have also been seized
Police have issued stern warnings to vigilante mobs and said strict action will be taken against people who take law into their hands.
"Hooliganism will not be tolerated. We have taken action against those who have taken law into hands. We have had 11 cases of braid chopping in Baramulla. Certain things have cropped up like the spray being used to make women unconscious. No doctor or laboratory has certified it," said the SSP Baramulla.
Police have also issued an advisory asking people not to pay heed to rumours as investigations revealed that some elements were raising false alarms to "disturb the peace in the valley, create animosity between people and security forces and an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty to confine womenfolk in their homes so that radical religious agenda is realised."
"They raise Zakir Musa slogans to make their intentions public. People are requested not to pay heed to any rumours and help the police create a conducive and peaceful atmosphere so that our women can overcome the fear," said a police spokesman.
More than 150 braid chopping cases have been reported from Kashmir alone. Police said victims and families were not cooperating with investigators. Police has decided to test blood samples to understand what kind of spray was used to make women unconscious.
Meanwhile, normal life was disrupted in Kashmir as people observed a shutdown against the rising braid chopping incidents.
Police advisory
Police have issued an advisory asking people not to pay heed to rumours as some elements were raising false alarms.
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