Police version
During a press conference at Police Station Sopore on Saturday morning SSP Sopore Shri Harmeet Singh Mehta KPS said, “At least a dozen youths were arrested in north Kashmirs Sopore town by Sopore Police during nocturnal raid which were carried after locals allegedly tried to set ablaze a mentally challenged man accused of being a braid chopper on Friday. Police claimed that at least 12 youths, who were identified from the video of the attack, were picked up during night in Muzbug area of sopore.
SSP sopore further said that more arrests were expected in the case. Wasim Ahmad Tantray, the victim with special needs was beaten up by an angry mob on the suspicious that he was a braid chopper in the apple town on Friday. His attackers also tried to burn him alive, he said”. A cellphone video shows a group of men ruthlessly beating him, stripping him and attempting to set him on fire. Sopore Police had received an information on Friday morning that an alleged braid chopper had been attacked by locals in the Fruit Mandi area of Sopore Town, 45 km from Srinagar, SSP Sopore Shri. Harmeet singh Mehta said. The police rushed him to a hospital, but his condition is said to be critical.
*Culprits identified are as:-*
*01. Zahid Ah. Sheikh S/o. Zahoor Ah. Sheikh R/o. Maazbug Sopore.*
*02. Shahid Ah. Mir. S/o. Manzoor Ah. Mir R/o. Maazbug Sopore,*
*03. Nawaz Ah. Malla S/o. Mohammad Sultan Malla R/o. Sopore Naghama,*
*04. Javaid Ah. Dar S/o. Gh. Hassan Dar R/o. Darpora Delina,*
*05. Muzzamil Hussain Dar S/o. M. Shabaan Dar R/o. Maazbug Sopore,*
*06. Kausar Hussain Dar S/o. M. Shabaan Dar R/o. Maazbug Sopore,*
*07. Ishfaq Ah. Bhat S/o. Bashir Ah. Bhat R/o. Maazbug Sopore,*
*08. Mudassir Nabi S/o. Gh. Nabi Dar R/o. Maazbug Sopore,*
*09. Zahoor Hussain Bhat S/o. Ashiq Hussain R/o Maazbug Sopore,*
*10. Mohammad Usama Ahngar S/o. Mohammad Maqbool R/o. Maazbug Sopore,*
*11. Jameel Ah. Bhat S/o. Gh. Mohammad Bhat R/o. Maazbug Sopore and*
*12. Adil Bashir S/o Bashir Ahmad R/o Maazbug Sopore.*
And FIR no. 302/2017 under sections,147,148,149,307 RPC has been registered against them in Police Station Sopore.
SSP Sopore further said that more arrests were expected in the case with proper investigations. He said among the arrestees they are involved in stone pelting during last years unrest and some works with affiliation of hurriyat conference and some political parties SSP Sopore added.