The separatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference said in a statement that India had inflated the figures.

BBC: Kashmir political activist shot dead

For this reason, Sajjad Lone of the All Party Hurriyat Conference, a coalition of separatist parties that boycotted the elections, condemned the new violence but refused to see it as a setback to peace hopes.

ECONOMIST: Post-election optimism faces a hail of bullets

At the time of his murder on May 21st he was one of seven members of the executive council of the All Party Hurriyat Conference, an umbrella group of separatist parties that disagree about almost everything else.

ECONOMIST: The killing of Abdul Gani Lone removes a force for peace

The newly elected government may speak for the state's people, but the People's Democratic Party will argue for involving at least some members of the All Party Hurriyat Conference, the main grouping of separatist parties, which boycotted the vote.

ECONOMIST: After the vote

Significantly, the Pakistan-backed All-Party Hurriyat Conference, a group of 23 Kashmir-based parties with separatist roots, did not greet Mr Kalam with the day-long hartal (strike) they usually call when Indian leaders visit.

ECONOMIST: Not yet peace, but something like it