Mass hysteria induced by mysterious hair chopping of women in Valley on Friday led to the death of an aged civilian, as the issue forced the authorities to snap internet, stop train services and detain separatists.
Abdul Salam Wani, 70, a resident of Anantnag’s Dantar area, was hit by a brick on Thursday night. “The victim ventured out of his house out in the night. One of the relatives mistook him for a braid-chopper and smashed his head with a brick. He died in the hospital later,” a local told The Hindu over the phone.
The police have not divulged any details of the circumstances leading to his death. It is the first death caused by fast spreading braid-chopping scare.
Over 65 cases have already been registered since September.
The authorities placed areas under six police stations in Srinagar under restrictions in the wake of separatist leaders’ call for post-Friday prayers protests over the braid-chopping.
As “a precautionary measure”, mobile internet was also snapped in Srinagar and Budgam. Inter-State train services were stopped on Friday afternoon south Kashmir.
Despite the elaborate security arrangements, street protests broke out in Srinagar, Pulwama, Baramulla and Anantnag, as fresh cases of braid chopping were reported.
