British woman killed in Kashmir, Dutchman arrested

A British woman was found dead in a pool of blood in a houseboat in the Indian portion of Kashmir on Saturday and a Dutchman has been arrested in connection with the incident, police said.

Police officer Ghulam Jeelani said the British tourist, who was in her 20s, was found dead in her houseboat room on Dal Lake in Srinagar, the region's main city.

"The woman had multiple stab wounds all over her body and we found a knife next to her," said Afadul Mujtaba, another police officer.

Police said the Dutchman smashed open the door of the woman's room during the night. Later, he fled with only his passport, leaving behind all his belongings, Mujtaba said.

He said the man, who is in his 40s, was later arrested in Qazigund, a town nearly 45 miles south of Srinagar, while trying to escape from the region.

Police were questioning the man, but he has not been charged with anything, Mujtaba said.

Mujtaba said the victim's body was sent for medical examination to determine whether she was sexually assaulted before being killed.

The woman spent more than a month in the houseboat, and the Dutchman booked into a separate room on Thursday, police said, adding that they were investigating whether the two knew each other.

Police said they have informed the victim's family and the British High Commission in New Delhi about the incident. Britain's Foreign Office said it was aware of the death of a British national and was providing consular assistance to the victim's family.

Srinagar has been relatively peaceful after years of armed rebellion, and tourism has revived in the region — an area popular with adventure tourists, backpackers and honeymooners.

Associated Press writer Cassandra Vinograd in London contributed to this report.