Srinagar, Kashmir - Mobs attacked police during protests as daily life in India-administered Kashmir was disrupted for the sixth consecutive day Saturday owing to a general strike called over the alleged rape and murder of two women.

The strike was called by separatist Hurriyat Conference leaders after the bodies of the two women were found in Shopian, a town in southern Kashmir last week.

Locals alleged that the women were raped and murdered by soldiers.

The situation remained tense across state capital Srinagar and other major towns as police and paramilitary patrolled the streets to maintain law and order.

Fresh trouble erupted later Saturday afternoon, after a number of youth gathered at various places in Srinagar shouting slogans to demand action against the guilty.

Angry young men took to the streets, hurtling stones at security forces which had to use tear-gas and batons to disperse them.

"At least 10 people sustained simple injuries during the protests. Nobody is serious," a local police officer said.

The state saw a complete shutdown as government offices, banks, educational institutions and courts remained closed in Srinagar.

Shops and businesses were closed and public transport remained off roads in towns such as Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Bandipora, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam. The strike was scheduled to hold through Sunday.

Earlier on Saturday, the main opposition People's Democratic Party held demonstrations in Srinagar.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti demanded revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, saying it had given sweeping powers to the troops and their presence in civilian areas was leading to human rights violations.

"The situation is such that until atrocities don't end and the forces do not return to the barracks, people of Kashmir cannot lead a respectable, normal life," Mufti said.

"That is why we have started the movement and we will follow it up in New Delhi with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. If needed we will start a countrywide agitation," she said.

A youth killed and over 180 injured in protests that erupted across the state Monday after bodies of the women were found near a river last Saturday.

The protests continued despite the state government's rejection of allegations that government forces were behind the killings. It said the women had drowned in a stream.

State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah ordered a judicial inquiry to probe the deaths.

Large numbers of soldiers have been deployed in Kashmir to check militancy and terrorist attacks. Local residents and human rights groups have often accused the troops of human rights violations.

More than 45,000 people have been killed in the Kashmir region since a separatist movement launched an insurgency in the 1980s. The victims have included civilians, police, soldiers and militants.(dpa)