Afzal Guru Death Anniversary: Curfew imposed in Kashmir to stop protest rallies

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday imposed an undeclared curfew across the city in order to prevent protest rallies on the first death anniversary of Parliament attack convict Mohammed Afzal Guru.

Security forces anticipating unrest have imposed curfew in parts of insurgency-torn Kashmir and ordered people off the streets.

All mobile internet connections have been blocked except BSNL broadband.

Police officers and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have stepped up surveillance across the city.

A government spokesperson in a statement bans an assembly congregation of more than five persons as well as taking out of any procession without prior permission from concerned authorities.

Meanwhile, separatists groups called for a three-day shutdown and are demanding return of the mortal remains of Kashmiri militant Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat who were hanged to death.

Mohammad Afzal Guru, who was held guilty in the case, was awarded death sentence by a Delhi court on December 18, 2002, after being convicted of conspiracy to attack parliament and waging war against the country and murder.

President Pranab Mukherjee had rejected a mercy petition and he was hanged in Tihar jail in New Delhi.

Guru was convicted of helping organise arms for the gunmen who made the attack and a place for them to stay. He always maintained his innocence.

The hanging was ordered less than three months after India executed Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman of a 2008 attack in the city of Mumbai in which 166 people were killed.