By IANS,
Srinagar : A forensic report has confirmed that two women found dead in south Kashmir’s Shopian town last week had been raped before being murdered, police said Sunday. The deaths have triggered violent protests across the valley for the past week.
The police registered a case of gang rape after a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report received Saturday evening, a senior police officer told IANS .
“The report was received by us yesterday (Saturday),” the official said.
The killing of the two women, Neelofar Jan, 22, and her sister-in-law Asiya Jan, 17, led to massive protests across Kashmir where life has been paralyzed completely for the past week.
The autopsy of the two bodies was conducted last Saturday. The samples collected by a team of doctors were sent to FSL.
The villagers and the family members of the two women allege that they were raped and murdered by the security forces.
Though the state government initially said it was a case of death by drowning, the massive public outrage forced Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to order a judicial probe.
Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, whose call for a general shut has paralyzed the valley for the past week, was arrested Saturday evening.
Police and Central Reserve Police Force Sunday used teargas shells and batons to disperse a group of women protestors led by hardline Dukhtaran-i-Milat chairperson Asiya Andrabi.
Angry youth took to the streets in parts of the old city and indulged in stone pelting on the security forces.