The Jammu and Kashmir Police Monday said that all the police officials at the district level have been asked to collect the blood samples of the victims of ‘braid chopping’ in a bid to find out the nature of spray used by the culprits.

Ruling out lie-detector or polygraph tests of the braid-chopping victims, Inspector General of Police Kashmir Range, Munir Ahmad Khan rued the lack of cooperation by the victims and their families.

“The investigation regarding the braid chopping incidents was not done in a perfect manner as the lack of cooperation from the victims and their families didn’t help the department to get any evidence to investigate the matter thoroughly,” he said, while addressing a presser here at Police Control Room (PCR).

He also said that in view of such circumstances, police will start the scientific investigation to find out the facts behind the braid chopping incidents.

“We will collect the blood samples of victims for the scientific investigation, which may help us to get a proper lead in this regard,” he said, adding that the public claims over the braid chopping incidents seems far from the truth.

“We would like to see the chemicals that is being used to turn the victims unconscious. We will collect the evidences and blood samples of victims to investigate the matter thoroughly, which would give us a proper lead to crack the whip over it,” he said, adding that they will also find out the motives behind the braid chopping as well.

“Hopefully with this strategy, we will be able to solve the mystery. The process of collecting the scientific evidences has also been started. All the SHOs have been directed to collect the samples to start the investigation in a scientific manner,” he said.

 “There would be no lie-detection or polygraph test of the victims,” he said while rejecting the reports wherein it was said that the braid chopping victims would go through the lie-detector or polygraph test.

IGP further asked media to play their role in this regard. “The anti-social elements have also jumped in the fray and they are using the situation to their advantage. There were also allegations against the security forces but we have to ignore these things and should try to find out the facts,” he said.

“I want to convey a message to the general public that we are here to protect the common masses. We are facing more hardships as compared to common man due to such kind of incidents.  We don’t want to see a common man to remain confined to the four walls of the houses as it creates fear psychosis,” he said.

He also said that whenever they will get the proper evidences, they will start investigation in this regard.

Meanwhile, Khan said that they have arrested three militants and an over ground worker during the last three days during live action in different militancy related incidents.

The IGP also said that the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, a militant outfit is behind the recent bank robbery incidents, saying that they have been identified in the CCTV footage.

IGP informed that on Oct 14 the Hizb militants attacked police at D H Pora in which the arrested OGW identified as Rameez Yatoo was part of the attackers. “He has been arrested and he handed over some arms and ammunition too after his arrest,” he said.

Khan added that three militants, one from Hizb and two from Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) from Kund belt of Kulgam were arrested.

“The Hizb militant Gulzar Ahmad Dar was the man responsible for the attack on Minister Naeem Akhter’s cavalcade in Tral in which five persons were killed,” he said.

“We are after the leadership of the militant outfits because we are so keen to halt the process of fresh recruitment,” Khan said.

He asked the local militants to surrender and assured their complete rehabilitation.

“The local militants are our own people. We want them to get back to mainstream, they are our own people,” Khan said.

The IGP while asked about the arrest of freelance photojournalist, Kamran Yosuf said that he was arrested for his involvement in stone pelting incidents.

 “The NIA didn’t arrest Yosuf. He was arrested by the police for his involvement in stone pelting. Two cases were already registered against him for his involvement in stone pelting,” he said, adding that Kamran was sent o NIA custody to check his involvement in terror funding case.  

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