New Kashmir protests over murder

By Altaf Hussain
BBC News, Srinagar

Kashmir has seen days of protests over the killings of civilians

Thousands of protesters have marched towards an army base in Indian-administered Kashmir, following the alleged murder of a young woman.

Protesters say that the young student from the Kupwara district died after a member of India's Territorial Army assaulted her.

A general strike over the incident has disrupted life across the Kashmir Valley as businesses closed down.

The death is the tenth in recent weeks to be blamed on the security forces.

The college student, 20, died after a Territorial Army soldier allegedly assaulted her at her home in Dolipora village late on Wednesday night.

Police have charged a soldier with the murder of the young woman.

The incident triggered huge demonstrations in Kupwara on Thursday which continued late into the night.

Massive discontent

The victim's funeral took place on Friday morning and fresh demonstrations have been reported from Kupwara on Friday.

Thousands of people, including a large number of women, marched towards the army camp in Kupwara on Friday morning where the accused soldier was based.

Shops and colleges have been closed and traffic suspended as a result of the strike.

The incident comes amid huge discontent over the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian town six weeks ago.

The final report of a probe into the case surrounding the double murder recently confirmed that police were involved.

Shops in Shopian have been closed for the last 42 days and the case sparked protests across the Valley.