A number of separatists including their leaders in Indian-controlled Kashmir were detained ahead of Afzal Guru's first death anniversary, police sources said Saturday.

The detentions, according to police, were made as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in the restive region.

"Several leaders and their supporters have been taken into custody," said a police officer pleading anonymity. "The step was taken to prevent situation from worsening."

Sunday will mark the first death anniversary of Mohammed Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri, who was executed last year for his role in the 2001 Indian parliament building attack.

Guru was hanged in New Delhi's Tihar jail and buried inside the jail premises.

The pro-independence and separatist parties had urged New Delhi to hand over body of Guru to his family. However, the federal government rejected the plea, fearing it could trigger massive anti-India protests in the region.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the psyche of the majority of Kashmiris.

Separatists ahead of the anniversary have renewed their demand for the mortal remains of Guru and another separatist leader Mohammad Maqbool Bhat. Like Guru, he too was hanged and buried inside Tihar jail on February 11, 1984. Bhat was among the founder members of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, a pro-independent group.

Many in the region believe Guru and Bhat were denied fair trial.

The separatist groups have condemned the arrest of their leaders Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Mushtaq-ul-Islam and others.

Authorities on Saturday put hardliner Syed Ali Geelani under house arrest immediately after his arrival at the Srinagar airport.

The Hurriyat (freedom) Conference headed by Geelani has called for a three-day shutdown from Sunday to build pressure on New Delhi to return the mortal remains of Guru and Bhat.