J&K Police and paramilitary forces on Monday stopped a protest march by separatists to Anantnag town from Srinagar by taking their leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq into custody even as protesters made a bid at over a dozen places across Kashmir to defy curfew. Curfew remained in force in the five districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and Baramulla and 11 police station areas of the city as a preventive measure to thwart the separatists' plans to take out the protest march. A police official said there were attempts at over a dozen places across the valley to defy curfew but law enforcing agencies chased the protesters away by resorting to baton charge and firing tear smoke shells. Reports of brief clashes between security forces and protesters were received from Natipora in the city, Arwani, Bijbehara, Anchidora, Batengo, Achabal (in Anantnag), Opmora, Choon (in Budgam district) and Safapora in Ganderbal district.

While the official said there were no reports of anyone getting injured in the clashes, unconfirmed reports said at least a dozen protesters were hurt in the security forces' action.

Mr Geelani and the Mirwaiz tried to take out separate rallies from their respective residences in Hyderpora and Nigeen areas of the city but were taken into custody, he said.

Mobile telephony, mobile internet services and train services remained suspended for 17th day while schools, colleges and other educational institutions also remained closed due to a strike called by the separatist groups to protest the civilian killings in the clashes between protesters and security forces since July 8.

Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and his two associates were killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8, leading to massive protests across the Valley which has so far claimed 47 lives including two policemen and left over thousands injured.