India Houseboat Murder: Sarah Groves Stabbed

Police say the attack on a British girl murdered on a houseboat in India may have been sexually motivated.

Sarah Groves, 24, was found in a pool of blood inside the boat she had been living on for up to two months on the Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir.

A Dutchman, aged in his 40s, who had been staying in a neighbouring boat has been arrested on suspicion of her murder.

Local police said Miss Groves, who was from Guernsey, had multiple stab wounds all over her body and a knife was found next to her.

Her body is being sent for medical examination to determine whether she was sexually assaulted before being killed.

The Dutch national is alleged to have smashed open the door of her room during the night.

He was picked up as he tried to flee the valley with only his passport, leaving all his belongings behind, senior police officer Abdul Ghani Mir said.

He is being held at Qazigund, in south Kashmir's Anantag district, around 100km (62 miles) from Dal Lake.

He had allegedly fled in a small boat which capsized as he was trying to reach the shore, forcing him to swim.

Speaking near the murder scene, Deputy Inspector General of Police for central Kashmir Afadul Mujtaba said: "She has been living here, an English tourist, and a Dutch tourist arrived two days ago, and now today in the morning the dead body of the female tourist has been found with incision wounds, sharp-edged weapon wounds."

Forensic officers have closed off the boat where Miss Groves' body was found.

Her shoes were still on the vessel, sitting next to a pair belonging to the Dutchman.

Sky News has also learned that the son of the owner of the houseboat Miss Groves was staying on is helping police with their inquiries.

Speaking to Sky News India correspondent Alex Rossi, Irfan Shoda said his brother Samir was being questioned and described finding the victim's body in the early hours.

The family who owns the houseboat told Sky News Miss Groves was a "wonderful girl".

Owner Hafeeza, who was weeping, said: "She was very dear to me, she was just like my daughter."

The Foreign Office says it is in touch with local authorities and Miss Groves' family has been informed.

Tributes have been paid to Miss Groves on Twitter.

Rouxelfc said: "Our world is cruel. Sarahgroves was one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. My life has been touched at the cost of urs."

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.