Braid cutting: Panic grips city students

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 14

Though the incidents of braid cutting are being reported usually by people from the economically weaker section, its fear has apparently gripped all.

Be it kitty-parties, get-togethers or birthday parties, braid cutting remains the hot topic. Sadly, girls in their adolescent years are feeling panicky over such news reports and complaints about scary braid-cutting stories are pouring in from various sections.

Aradhna, a resident whose daughter is a Class-VII student in a reputed school here, said her ward had been behaving strangely. “For the past one week, she sleeps with me. If she wakes up at night, she wants me to accompany her to the washroom. Though we are trying to console her and counsel her, she remains scared. She recently asked me to get her hair trimmed so that none can chop her braid. Being a parent, I am worried for my daughter because she has developed this fear psychosis,” said the worried parent.

Several women maintained that even in schools, braid cutting is the topic of discussion. “More they discuss, more they will be scared. We are trying to convince them that these are just rumours, but they are fear-gripped,” said one of the mothers.

Homemakers blame the domestic helpers for spreading such rumours. “My maid brought leaves from a neem tree and asked me to keep them at the main gate to keep off the evils. Hearing this, my daughter pressurised me to keep leaves at home also,” lamented a homemaker.

Though the educated parents try to make their children realise that no bad evils are cutting the braids, children remain sceptical. They have started surfing the net to get more details. A girl told her parents that a neighbouring country had sent a particular insect which cuts the hair to create panic. While others said evil spirits wanted to take “revenge”, as not even the police had come to any conclusion till date.

What psychiatrists say...

If some supernatural powers were at play, people from upper strata of society would also have been the victims. Residents should counsel their wards not to believe in such stories. — Rajeev Gupta

Teachers and parents should counsel the youngsters to keep their minds strong, as vulnerable persons are more likely to become the targets of miscreants. — Paramjit Khurana 

.