Identity of British woman murdered on houseboat in Srinagar confirmed

 
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9 April 2013

A British woman has been found dead on a houseboat on the Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir.

She has been named as 24-year-old Sarah Groves from Guernsey. A Dutchman who was also staying either on the same boat or one next to hit has been arrested on suspicion of her murder. It is thought she may also have been sexually assaulted.

Ms Groves had been living on the boat for about a month, as part of a holiday travelling around India. The Dutchman, said to be in his early forties, had arrived two nights ago.

The woman's body was found in the early hours of the morning and she is said to have been stabbed a number of times. The Dutchman reportedly fled the scene, leaving all his possessions behind including his shoes and carrying only his passport. He was picked up by police in Qazigund, a town roughly 45 miles south of Srinagar. He has now been taken back to Srinagar for questioning.

Abdul Ghani Mir, the inspector general of Kashmir, told NDTV in India: "The Dutch national had fled from the houseboat in the night, leaving behind his belongings. He was trying to flee from the valley, carrying only his passport. We flashed an alert for his arrest."

Local police said the victim had multiple stab wounds all over her body while a knife was found next to her.

The Dutchman was said to have smashed open the door of her room during the night.

He had booked into a separate room on Thursday, police added.

Ms Groves had been staying on the houseboat for two months, the owner told NDTV in India, adding that she had been "like her daughter".

It is the latest in a series of violent attacks on women tourists in India.

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