Police patrols against Kashmir acid attacks

India's Border Security Force has joined the local police in Indian-administered Kashmir to prevent acid attacks against women who do not follow the Islamic dress code that a section of Kashmiri militants are insisting upon.

Women police officers began patrolling schools and colleges for girls in the Kashmir valley on Saturday following two acid attacks on Kashmiri women who were not wearing veils.

The Lashkar-e-Jabbar, which is believed to be a hardline faction among Kashmir's many militant groups, has claimed responsibility for the incident, saying that it was carrying out a campaign to enforce the Islamic dress code on Kashmiri women.

Some militant groups, like the Hizbul Mujahedeen, have condemned the use of force against women.

Others, like the Lashkar E Toiba, have said that an Islamic dress code was on their agenda, but was not a priority.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service