Pulwama, Oct 21, 2017, Kashmir Pen: At a time when hair vigilantes are manhandling braid chopping suspects in different parts of Valley, the locals in South Kashmir’s Pulwama village reportedly thrashed a group of Hizbul Mujhadeen militants on Friday night.
Locals from Thokarpora village, barely 7 kilometers away from Pulwama district told news agency CNS that a group of three Hizb militants were passing through the village, when hair vigilantes stopped and questioned them.
“As the vigilantes equipped with sticks, iron rods and spades found the trio armed, they thrashed them mercilessly even though one of them was repeatedly telling them that he is Hizb militant Sameer Tiger,” said an eyewitness.
“Vigilantes continuously harassed, thrashed and abused them. Some of the vigilantes even tried to snatch weapons from them, which they resisted. The agitated locals were labeling them as braid choppers,” said the villagers witness to the account.
According to them, the trio managed to escape from the spot after their two more associates appeared there and fired at least 8 rounds in air. “The aerial firing created panic forcing the vigilantes to disperse from the spot,” they said.
Locals said that government forces rushed to the village after the incident and cordoned off the hamlet, however, no arrests were made as the militants had managed to leave the village.
A police official while confirming the incident said that five Hizbul Mujhadeen militants were passing through the village in two groups. “Three militants were thrashed by locals of Thokarpora village who mistook them as braid choppers while another group comprising two militants came to their rescue after resorting to aerial firing,” he said.
