Srinagar, Feb 9 (IANS): Restrictions were imposed here Sunday to prevent separatist protests on the first anniversary of Afzal Guru's hanging, police said.

Senior police officers said police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed in sensitive areas of Srinagar city, including the old city areas - Maisuma, Lal Chowk and Batmaloo - to prevent separatists from carrying out marches and protests.

Vehicular traffic and civilian movement is not being allowed in these areas and both private and public transport remained off the road following a separatist shutdown call to protest Guru's hanging in Tihar Jail this day in 2013.

Reports from north Kashmir Sopore, Baramulla and Bandipora towns also said security forces were not allowing traffic and pedestrian movements there.

All senior separatist leaders have been taken into preventive custody except Syed Ali Geelani who was placed under house arrest immediately after he arrived here from Delhi Saturday.

Muhammad Yasin Malik, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), has gone underground to evade arrest.

He announced he would be leading a separatist protest march in the city Sunday.