IHK shuts over arrests and rape

SRINAGAR (AFP) - Police in Occupied Kashmir fired live rounds and teargas Friday at hundreds of
demonstrators protesting over the alleged rape and murder of two Muslim women, police said.
Ten people were hurt, including three who suffered bullet wounds, a police officer said, asking not to be named.
Police had to use force to disperse violent demonstrators, he said, adding the incident took place in southern
Shopian, the hometown of a 17-year-old and her 22-year-old sister-in-law found dead in a stream on May 30.
In summer capital Srinagar, schools, shops and offices were shut Friday to protest at the arrest of APHC leader
who have led anti-India protests over the rape and killings.
Indian police initially insisted the women had drowned, despite allegations from family members that they were
abducted, raped and murdered by members of the security forces deployed in the Muslim-majority Kashmir
Valley.
Forensic tests later revealed they had indeed been raped, and police registered a murder case. Hurriyat leaders
have either been jailed or placed under house arrest after leading huge protests. Today (Fridays) strike is to
protest the arrest and detention of Hurriyat leaders for leading peaceful demonstrations, read a statement by
the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
The strike closed down shops, schools, banks and offices in Srinagar, witnesses said.
Indian police and paramilitary forces were also out on the streets of Srinagar in large numbers to prevent
protests, which have continued despite a ban on demonstrations.
Despite the heavy security presence, scores of Kashmiris held a demonstration near the main mosque in
Srinagar, witnesses said, prompting riot police to fire teargas and swing their batons.
Protesters retreated into narrow lanes and pelted the police with stones.
Earlier, riot police fired shots over the heads of Kashmiris protesting over the alleged harassment of a woman
by a member of the federal paramilitary forces.
Four policemen were hurt when the angry crowd attacked their vehicle, police said, adding that a case had been
registered against the accused trooper.