This Article is From Jul 11, 2009

Shopian deaths: Unanswered questions

Shopian deaths: Unanswered questions
Srinagar:

The Kashmir valley continues to echo with protests over the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian. There are many unanswered questions after an inconclusive autopsy report and another forensic test.

The issue has seen separatists taking up the cause. On Monday though tight security prevented major protests, there was firing reported in Shopian.

The city of Srinagar has been under siege for the last ten days after the bodies of two young women - Neelofar and Asiya -- were mysteriously fished out from a local river.

The police have officially filed a case of rape, but as the Centre keeps a close watch and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah grapples with street protests, the questions continue to multiply.

NDTV has got exclusive access to the autopsy report that says:

"The doctors who were to conduct the post-mortem could not complete their report because of 'hostile atmosphere'.

The reports confirm the presence of semen on both bodies, but does not draw a firm conclusion on murder saying the probable cause of the deaths was hemorrhage and neurogenic shock."

Meanwhile, a judicial commission is already investigating the death of the two women and now the Home Minister P Chidambaram is on his way to Srinagar later this week as well.

The family says it won't settle for less than swift justice for the killings.

"I want that the murderer should be brought to book, he should be punished. Government must punish the accused for rape and murder," said a family member of victims.

While the Opposition has been trying to outwit the government, the issue has become biggest challenge for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and a test for whether he can deliver justice in such a sensitive and volatile situation in Kashmir.

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