Srinagar: Unidentified persons on Tuesday morning chopped off the beard of a man in Batamaloo area of Srinagar city, sources said. This is a second incident of its kind as miscreants targeted a religious cleric in Pakherpora area of Budgam district on October 6.

According to the reports, beard of Farooq Ahmad Bhat alias Shakoori was chopped off when he was opening his shop at Kashi Mohalla area.

Reports said that Bhat was opening his shop when three persons used some spray, and chopped his beard before running away.

Farooq was taken to SMHS hospital after he fainted and as he resumed his senses he found the left side of beard chopped off. Farooq has approached the police and they have started investigating the matter.

Earlier, on October 6 unknown persons chopped off beard of a Masjid Imam in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday.

Molvi Ghulam Nabi Ghorsi was on way to Masjid in Futlipora village of Chrar-e-Sharief area to lead Fajr prayers when unknown persons caught hold of him and chopped off his beard, local sources said.

He fell unconscious and was shifted to Hospital, they said.

Meanwhile, braid choppers cut the braid of a woman in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

The lady was identified as Waheeda wife of Abbas Ahmad Mir of Balla Brakpora in Anantnag district.

As the news of the braid chopping spread in the area, protesters blocked the Gopalpora road which triggered minor clashes when Police tried to disperse the protesters.

Meanwhile, Police today claimed to have arrested  16 miscreants involved in Hazratbal Lynching case where a cop was almost lynched by a mob after he was mistaken for a braid chopper.

According to a police statement, on 19th October 2017 miscreants from Hazratbal area caught hold of man who had come to offer prayers at the Shrine, accusing him to be  a braid chopper.

“The mob consisting of local boys illegally restrained this person, beat him ruthlessly and also tried to drown him in the Dal lake. In the meanwhile Police party of PS Nigeen rushed to the spot and rescued this victim, the violent mob resorted to heavy stone pelting on police party in this regard case FIR no.140/2017 U/S 307,323,341,342,147,148 RPC,” Police said.

Police said that during the course of investigation several miscreants who were part of the violent mob were identified and a search was launched.

“In the course of action 16 wanted miscreants were arrested,” police said. The arrested have been identified as Abdul Rasbid Sofi, son of Late Mohammadd Sidiq Sofi of Dobhi Gath Hazratbal, 65, Bilal Ahmad Sofi @ sunny son of Mohd Rafiq Sofi of Banday Lane Hazratbal, 24, Manzoor Ahmad Sopori @ Adil son of Ghulam Mohammadd Sopori of Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal,29, Suhail Ahmad Wani @ Suhail Poison son of Manzoor Ahmad Wani of Dhobi Gath Hazratbal,25, Chraan Ahmad Sheikh, son of Farooq Ahmad Sheikh of Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal, 18, Owais Ahmad Shalla, son of late Ghulam Rasool Shalla of Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal, 28, Bilal Ahmad Dar @kila son of Ghulam Nabi Dar of Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal, 30, Tufail ahmad Wani @ udo son of Ab. Qayoom Wani of Dhobbi Ghat Hazratbal, 18, Mohammad Idress Baba son of Mohammadd Shafi Baba of Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal, 22,

Danish Nazir Teli, son of Nazir Ahmad Teli of Hazratbal A, 19, Umer Ali Ganie, son of Late Ali Mohd Ganie

Of Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal, 26, Fayaz Ahmad Dar son of Late Ghulam Mohammad Dar of Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal, 31, Azhar Bashir son of Bashir Ahmad Dhobi of Dhobi Ghat Hazratbal at present Shalimar, 24, Muneer Ahmad Sofi @ munna, son of late Mohammad Shafi Sofi of Banday Lane Hazratbal, 29, Owais Nazir Yatoo

Son of Nazir Ahmad Yatoo of Yatoo Mohalla Hazratbal, 21, and Mohammad Saleem Shaksaz son of Abdul Rashik Shakhsaz of Shaksaz Mohalla Hazratbal, 27.

Police said that the arrested miscreants have further revealed names of their accomplices and police is in the process to nab the remaining trouble mongers as well.

Guest