<p> A day after anti-braid chopping vigilantes tried to immolate a ‘mentally-challenged’ person in north Kashmir's Sopore area, the police on Saturday arrested at least 14 people.<br /><br />A source said that the suspects, identified from a video of the attack posted on social media, were arrested during a raid on Friday night in Mazbug area of Sopore, 52 km from here.<br /><br />In neighbouring Baramulla district, the police said that 45 people have been arrested for their role in instigating violence over braid-chopping incidents.<br /><br />Senior Superintendent of Police (Baramulla) Imtiyaz Hussain said that most of those arrested were involved in last year’s uprising triggered by the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.<br /><br />There is a sense of insecurity among the people over braid-chopping, as, in the last few weeks, more than 100 incidents have been reported across Kashmir.<br /><br />The police have formed special investigation teams (SITs) to crack the cases, but so far they have failed in making any arrests.<br /><br />Following the incidents, vigilante groups have been formed by people to catch the attackers.<br /><br />They are usually armed with axes, sickles, wooden boards and cricket bats.<br />Moving around in the night has become risky as vigilante groups dominate the streets.<br />In several instances, innocent people and even security personnel have been thrashed on suspicion. Recently, in Srinagar, some tourists were also beaten up.<br /></p>
<p> A day after anti-braid chopping vigilantes tried to immolate a ‘mentally-challenged’ person in north Kashmir's Sopore area, the police on Saturday arrested at least 14 people.<br /><br />A source said that the suspects, identified from a video of the attack posted on social media, were arrested during a raid on Friday night in Mazbug area of Sopore, 52 km from here.<br /><br />In neighbouring Baramulla district, the police said that 45 people have been arrested for their role in instigating violence over braid-chopping incidents.<br /><br />Senior Superintendent of Police (Baramulla) Imtiyaz Hussain said that most of those arrested were involved in last year’s uprising triggered by the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.<br /><br />There is a sense of insecurity among the people over braid-chopping, as, in the last few weeks, more than 100 incidents have been reported across Kashmir.<br /><br />The police have formed special investigation teams (SITs) to crack the cases, but so far they have failed in making any arrests.<br /><br />Following the incidents, vigilante groups have been formed by people to catch the attackers.<br /><br />They are usually armed with axes, sickles, wooden boards and cricket bats.<br />Moving around in the night has become risky as vigilante groups dominate the streets.<br />In several instances, innocent people and even security personnel have been thrashed on suspicion. Recently, in Srinagar, some tourists were also beaten up.<br /></p>
