The previously unknown group has fixed September 1 as deadline for Muslim women. "Following the expiry of the deadline, the cadres of the group will start targeting women without the veil under the new strategy," the group warned on Monday.

Now, fear has set in among Hindu and Sikh women. They fear it would be difficult for the attackers to differentiate between Muslims and non-Muslims, when they carry out the 'targeting' after September 1.

Hindu and Sikh women have urged the group to spell out a dress code for them. "They should do something that will make them to differentiate between Muslim and non-Muslim women while carrying out threats," says Jagmeet Kaur, a school-teacher.

Kaur says she is feeling scared while moving in the streets of Srinagar, fearing an acid attack. "That is why I also cover my head like other Muslim women while moving in the streets," she adds.

During earlier campaigns to force an Islamic dress code in Kashmir, non-Muslim women were asked to wear a bindi in the middle of their foreheads - a centuries-old Hindu tradition. However, this time there is no such direction.

There are some 55,000 Sikhs and nearly 20,000 Hindus in the Kashmir valley. "We are waiting for the orders for our womenfolk," says Rajiv Kumar, a transformer mechanic.

Earlier this month, members of Lashkar-e-Jabbar sprayed corrosives on two Muslim women who were not wearing veils, after accusing them of being immodestly dressed.

Kashmir's dominant militant group, the Hizbul Mujahideen, and other rebel groups operating in the region have dissociated themselves from the attacks. "People should get hold of these attackers and teach them a lesson," said Salim Hashmi, spokesman for the Hizbul Mujahideen.

The previously unknown group has fixed September 1 as deadline for Muslim women. "Following the expiry of the deadline, the cadres of the group will start targeting women without the veil under the new strategy," the group warned on Monday.

Now, fear has set in among Hindu and Sikh women. They fear it would be difficult for the attackers to differentiate between Muslims and non-Muslims, when they carry out the 'targeting' after September 1.

Hindu and Sikh women have urged the group to spell out a dress code for them. "They should do something that will make them to differentiate between Muslim and non-Muslim women while carrying out threats," says Jagmeet Kaur, a school-teacher.

Kaur says she is feeling scared while moving in the streets of Srinagar, fearing an acid attack. "That is why I also cover my head like other Muslim women while moving in the streets," she adds.

During earlier campaigns to force an Islamic dress code in Kashmir, non-Muslim women were asked to wear a bindi in the middle of their foreheads - a centuries-old Hindu tradition. However, this time there is no such direction.

There are some 55,000 Sikhs and nearly 20,000 Hindus in the Kashmir valley. "We are waiting for the orders for our womenfolk," says Rajiv Kumar, a transformer mechanic.

Earlier this month, members of Lashkar-e-Jabbar sprayed corrosives on two Muslim women who were not wearing veils, after accusing them of being immodestly dressed.

Kashmir's dominant militant group, the Hizbul Mujahideen, and other rebel groups operating in the region have dissociated themselves from the attacks. "People should get hold of these attackers and teach them a lesson," said Salim Hashmi, spokesman for the Hizbul Mujahideen.