Srinagar:
Afzal Guru's family in Kashmir received only today, the letter sent by the Centre last week informing them of the decision to execute the 2001 Parliament attack case convict. Guru was hanged on Saturday morning at Delhi's Tihar Jail. Jammu and Kashmir has been tense and under curfew since then. There have been protests and additional BSF, CRPF and police units have been deployed to maintain law and order in the state.
Here's the latest on this story:
At least 50 people, including 23 policemen, have been injured in clashes between those protesting against Guru's execution and law enforcement agencies across the Valley since Saturday.
Fourteen companies of the Border Security Force, or BSF, have been sent to the Valley today.
A 16-year-old boy, who was among five people injured during firing by security forces in Baramulla district, died on Sunday night.
Two people drowned in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district on Sunday. They were allegedly being chased by security forces during a protest.
The administration has deployed extra security today as it is the death anniversary of separatist leader Maqbool Bhat, who, like Afzal Guru, was hanged in Tihar Jail in 1984 for killing an intelligence officer. His death had created massive unrest in the Valley.
Only ambulances and staff of the essential services department have been issued curfew passes to facilitate their movement in Srinagar today.
Internet, mobile data and cable services, which were restricted following Afzal Guru's hanging, continue to remain down in many parts of the state.
The Centre had said on Saturday that they had sent letters to Afzal Guru's family about the decision to execute him by speed post and registry. Guru's family said on Saturday that they learnt from national TV that he had been hanged. They received the letter today.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said yesterday that he feared Guru's execution would fuel the feeling of alienation in his state. In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Mr Abdullah also said, "As a human being, I cannot reconcile to the fact that Afzal Guru was not allowed to see his family. That is one of the biggest tragedies of this execution."
Afzal Guru, convicted of plotting the strike on Parliament on December 13, 2001, was hanged on Saturday after his mercy petition was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee. Five terrorists drove into the high-security complex and opened fire, killing nine people.
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