Hair chopping incidents, UP police ask officials to engage citizens against rumours

The police have asked rural committees, peace committees and special police officers to engage citizens and spread awareness

Concerned over the rise in alleged braid-chopping cases over the past few days, UP police has issued an advisory asking residents immediately inform the police about such incidents and not to take the law into their own hands.

24- year-old Usha Devi from Loni claimed her hair were chopped off by some 'unknown shadow' .

Anand Kumar, additional director general (law & order), said there was no organised gang behind these incidents and these were all just rumours.

“These (braid-chopping) rumours are being spread by anti-social elements. In the event of any incident such as the one that took place in Agra (an elderly Dalit woman being allegedly lynched over rumours), police will take strict legal action. Apart from this, people are being apprised through communication,” Kumar told reporters.

The police have asked rural committees, peace committees and special police officers to engage citizens and spread awareness. They have asked the district officials to denounce such messages and engage citizens on social media against such rumours.

The ADG directed officials at the district level, police stations and police posts to hold meetings and engage youth and digital volunteers to take up campaigns against such rumours.

During the past fortnight there have been number of alleged cases that have come to light in Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, UP and Madhya Pradesh, primarily in rural segments.

“Such rumours have come to light earlier too. These are spread by some anti-social elements to highlight the deteriorating law and order and cause fear among people, especially those who live in rural areas and belong to lower strata of the society. In some cases, such rumours are also spread by people engaged in occult practices to instill a fear among the illiterate masses,” said Rajendra Tyagi, a veteran councillor.

In Ghaziabad too, at least three incidents have been reported from Loni town, involving a 24-year-old woman, a 34-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl.

Two other teenaged girls also reported their hair being chopped off at Misalgarhi under Masuri police station area. One incident was also reported from Acheja village in Greater Noida after the tresses of an 18- year-old woman were found chopped off early Thursday morning.

“We have asked officials to create awareness among people and to subvert spread of such rumors. Our personnel will hold meetings with masses and make them aware about staying away from such rumors,” said HN Singh, senior superintendent of police, Ghaziabad.