Posters attributed to an organisation styling itself as Sangbaaz Association Jammu and Kashmir, Azad Kashmir – an association of stone-pelters – have surfaced around Lal Chowk in Srinagar, according to media reports.
The group is said to have issued a chilling warning to girls in the Valley to not be seen riding a Scooty, or face immolation, according to a report in the newspaper DNA.
Written in a mix of English and Urdu, the alleged posters carry a message that reads:
We request all girls, please do not use Scooty. If we see a girl riding Scooty, we will burn the Scooty as well as the girl.
The state police are said to have gone into overdrive to track down the people behind the posters.
There was one poster. We are examining it. Whatever legal action is necessary will be taken. There is no need to panic. We will ensure security. We will take care of people moving on Scooties.Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, SJM Gillani to DNA
The poster also named some shopkeepers and banks, and asked them to shut down immediately or face consequences.
Meanwhile, there seems to be debate on the authenticity of the poster. The image of the poster tweeted by a Kashmiri journalist was re-tweeted heavily. Soon after that, many raised queries about its origins.
According to PTI, fresh clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in several parts of Kashmir on Saturday, as authorities lifted curfew in the Valley. Kashmir has been boiling with protests over the death of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani for more than 17 days now.
Source: DNA
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)