Indian Kashmir tense over deaths of women

Jun 3, 2009, 12:04 GMT

   Srinagar, Kashmir - Over 50 protestors were injured during violent demonstrations in Indian-administered Kashmir Wednesday, the third day of a shutdown called to protest against the alleged rape and killing of two women by Indian troops.

   The shutdown was called by separatist Hurriyat Conference leaders after the bodies of the two women were found Saturday in Shopian, a town in southern Kashmir.

   Locals alleged that the women, who went missing Friday evening, were raped and murdered by soldiers.

   As many as 35 people were injured in clashes with security personnel during a protest march in Shopian organized by the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) to demand action against the troops.

   'The protestors suffered simple or superficial injuries. No one was seriously wounded,' a state official said requesting anonymity.

   PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, who led the march, addressed a 5,000-strong crowd in the town before the clashes.

   Mufti demanded that murder charges be filed against the perpetrators, the immediate revocation of a special powers act for the armed forces and a reduction of troops in the region.

   But the deaths are shrouded in mystery as state authorities have repeatedly rejected the allegations that government forces were involved in the women's deaths, saying they had drowned in a stream.

   The state government has instituted a judicial inquiry to probe the deaths.

   Meanwhile, nearly 20 people were wounded during protests which broke out at a dozen places in state capital Srinagar.

   Protestors were chased by police who used batons and teargas after they turned violent and threw stones.

   Roads were deserted, shops and schools remained shut in Srinagar and other towns such as Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora and Anantnag.

   In some areas people shouted anti-government slogans and burned effigies of Omar Abdullah, the state's chief minister.

   Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who issued the call for the strike, was arrested by the police later on Wednesday. Other separatist leaders were also placed under house arrest to stem the protests.

   Large numbers of soldiers have been deployed in Kashmir to check militancy and terrorist attacks. Local people and human rights groups have often accused the troops of human rights violations.

   More than 45,000 people have been killed in the Kashmir region since a separatist movement launched an insurgency in the 1980s. The victims have included civilians, police, soldiers and militants.