Suspected to be a braid-chopper, a territorial army jawan was brutally thrashed today by an angry mob of locals in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara town.

Clashes between protestors and cops broke out soon after the jawan was rescued by fellow Armymen. In a shocking case of mob justice or of mistaken identity, the jawan was not only beaten but some stone-pelting incidents were also reported from the area.

The clashes took place in the Kralpora areas of Kupwara district.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The recent mysterious braid chopping episodes have triggered panic in the Valley. The incidents are being claimed by the Separatists as the handiwork of central agencies to divert attention from their anti-national agenda.

As many as 100 such incidents have already taken place in little over a month.

Commenting on the progress in the investigation, the police say they haven't really found any headway in these cases.

WATCH VIDEO | Kashmir: Army jawan thrashed on suspicion of being braid-chopper in Kupwara