Srinagar, Aug 29 - Jammu and Kashmir police Saturday announced a cash reward of Rs.20 lakh (Rs.2 million) for anyone providing information that would lead to the arrest of the culprits in the rape and murder of two women in Shopian district.

'Anyone providing information to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case of the culprits involved in the crime will be paid Rs.20 lakh. The name of the person providing the information will be kept confidential,' an advertisement published in leading dailies here said Saturday.

The SIT headed by a deputy inspector general of police has so far not been able to crack the case in which two young women were raped and killed, leading to widespread protests in the valley. The case is being monitored by a division bench of the state high court headed by Chief Justice Barin Ghosh.

The court Friday left it to the state government to decide whether or not to transfer the case to the CBI.