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Protests by lawyers, others against braid chopping

MAJID NABI. Dated: 10/12/2017 9:38:49 AM

SRINAGAR, Oct 11: Several protests were held in Srinagar city on Wednesday against the growing incidents of braid chopping by mysterious elements for the past one and half months across Kashmir.
While members of Kashmir High Court Bar Association (KHCBA) took out a rally from High Court complex to Ghanta Ghar, police foiled Youth National Conference (YNC) protest against braid cutting and detained scores of its workers and activists including YNC President Salman Ali Sagar.
Reports of clashes between youth and government forces were also received from Fateh Kadal, Bemina and Batamalloo after people hit the streets in these areas against braid chopping of several women. Police charged batons and fired tear smoke shells to disperse protesters.
Protesters alleged that the police instead of arresting guilty have been using force on people for holding protests against attack on the honour of their mothers and sisters.
“We will be forced to take arms in case the government failed to identify the culprits. How long shall we tolerate the attack on our mothers and sisters? It has been more than a month but the accused braid choppers are still at large,” said Tahmeena a protester.
Amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the protestors took out a peaceful protest rally from High Court to Ghanta Ghar at Lal Chowk against what they termed deliberate attack on honour and dignity of Kashmiri women.
Meanwhile protesting lawyers led by recently elected Bar President, Advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom, while condemning the incidents of braid chopping said that even after more than a month, police was unable to nab the culprits involved in braid chopping.
“We cannot tolerate the attack on the honour of our mother, sisters and daughters. Whosoever is behind this gruesome act is enjoying full patronage otherwise it is not difficult for police to identify and arrest them. This is a deliberate attack on the chastity of Kashmiri women who have been living under constant threat ever since the menace spread in valley,’’ said KHCBA President, Mian Abdul Qayoom addressing lawyers at Ghanta Ghar.
He questioned the government and the police for their failure to identify braid choppers who have unleashed hell in every nook and corner of the valley for the past one and half months.
Qayoom said had police and government been serious about arresting culprits, incidents of braid chopping would not have increased at an alarming level.
Earlier the police foiled YNC protest rally against mysterious incidents of braid chopping and detained scores of its workers and activists along with their President near TRC Crossing here.
Led by their President, Salman Ali Sagar, dozens of YNC workers and activists this morning took out protest rally from NC headquarters at Nawai Subh here and started marching towards Lal Chowk; however deployed police intercepted them near TRC and bundled Sagar and other activists in already awaiting police vehicles.
“Since incidents of braid chopping have increased in Srinagar and elsewhere, it is our moral responsibility to raise our voice against cruelty meted out to our mothers and sisters. Government must wake up and take strong notice of the situation,” said Salman Sagar before being detained.