Cops rescue ‘mentally challenged’ man branded as braid-chopper

Srinagar, October 20

A “mentally challenged” man was rescued from a mob which was trying to kill him suspecting that he was a braid-chopper, in Sopore area of Baramulla district, police said on Friday.

Police received information that an alleged “braid-chopper” had been nabbed by locals in the Fruit Mandi area of Sopore, 52 km from here, a police spokesman said.

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

Wasim Ahmad Tantray was rescued by the police team, he said, adding that 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,” he said.

The spokesman said police had 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 have so far failed to make any arrest.

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

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