Srinagar:
It was a small rally in Srinagar, yet an unprecedented one. Condemning the murder of sisters Akhtar and Arifa, allegedly by militants, residents came out in a rare open protest against militancy.
"It's not the question of one girl. It's the question of the whole society," said one of the protesters.
They demanded an explanation from hardliner separatists, urging a stop to killings of innocents.
"We women have come out in our individual capacity. We want a secure future," said one of the women protesters.
Police say it was Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants who dragged Akhtar and Arifa out of their one-room shack and killed them in cold blood.
After a muted response hardliner separatists have finally condemned the act.
But already citizens have started mobilising protest: Like this youth group that has called for a peace march on Sunday.
"There has been an overwhelming response to our initiative so for. This is a march of solidarity with the murdered sisters, intended to give out a message that anyone who kills a Kashmiri in cold blood is and should be an enemy of Kashmir," said Junaid Azim Mattu, an activist.
Today's protest may have been a low key affair, but this was the first time Kashmiris have publicly dared hardliners. The Sunday march could only strengthen it.