In a new twist to the Shopian incident, a prominent member of Majlis Mashawaarat Shopian—the organisation spearheading the protest to seek justice for two women who were raped and murdered—was found murdered in an orchard in the town on Tuesday evening.

The body of Mohammad Hussein, a property dealer who had been abducted from his house on September 5 by some unknown persons, was found at an orchard near Arihema Bypass on the outskirts of Shopian town. Protests broke out in the town soon after the body was found.

“Hussein was a member of our organisation and participated in every protest,” said Mohammad Shafi Khan, spokesman of Majlis Mushwaarat. “Our members and locals will be guarding the body in hospital till a team of doctors will arrive from Srinagar tomorrow,” he said. The Majlis Mashwaarat has also called for a daylong strike on Wednesday.