On Sunday, July 30, three women living in Kangan Heri village in the Indian state of Delhi reported that an unknown agent, whether human or not, somehow rendered them unconscious and then cut their braids off. The women, who ranged in age from 50 to 60, denying seeing who was responsible. All they could remember was experiencing a severe headache before losing consciousness and waking up to find their braids had been cut. Though police were baffled by the incidents, the braids were sent out to be tested while a forensic team investigated all three homes.
Over the past three months, numerous episodes of braid chopping have been reported across different parts of India. The reported victims range in age from small children to the elderly though their stories are remarkably similar. In all cases, none of the women show signs of physical injury aside from their missing hair. While some have provided physical descriptions of their purported attackers, there are few real similarities and some victims claim that their attacker wasn't human.
Along with sparking a hysteria that has left many women afraid and sleepless, vigilante mobs have targeted people suspected of being responsible. Cases of men and women accused of being braid choppers and being physically assaulted are being reported in different areas across India. Many of the suspected braid choppers were either tourists, people known to be mentally ill, or strangers to the area where they were accused. In one gruesome case, a 70-year-old man suspected of being a braid chopper was lynched in South Kashmir's Anantnag District. Two men in Nagaur were also arrested for assaulting a mentally-challenged woman whom they accused of chopping braids and practicing witchcraft.
Though police believe the entire braid chopping epidemic is an example of mass hysteria, media coverage is helping spread the panic even further. Paranoia is leading to increasing pressure to keep women and children safe at home to protect them from the evil influence at work.
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