Residents in rural areas said police used loud hailers to order them to stay indoors from daybreak as it emerged that Mohammed Afzal Guru, a member of a freedom fighter group was to be hanged.

Although there was no formal curfew order in occupied Srinagar, police hastily erected barricades across main entry roads and in the city centre in a bid to prevent any possible demonstrations against the execution.

Three police helicopters could also be seen hovering overhead in occupied Srinagar.

Authorities at the University of Kashmir in occupied Srinagar meanwhile issued a statement announcing that examinations due to take place on Saturday had been cancelled.