At least 20 separatist leaders, including chairman of hardline Hurriyat faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Jammu and Kashmir [Images] Democratic Freedom Party president Shabir Ahmad Shah, were on Tuesday detained at different places en route to the tense Pulwama township, which was rocked by the powerful car bomb on Monday.

The separatist leaders were detained to maintain law and order as the situation in the town was surcharged following the blast, which left 15 people dead and scores of others injured, official sources.

Minor clashes between police and protestors were reported in the town on Tuesday morning, they said adding the situation was under control.

Geelani, who was leading a delegation of his faction to Pulwama to condole the death of innocent persons the blast, was detained at Gadoora, 25 km from Srinagar [Images], they said.The strike called by hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference affected normal life in the Kashmir valley on Tuesday, official sources said.

Shops, business and educational institutions in the Kashmir valley remained closed, they said, adding, the transport services were also affected.

The sources added that some activists forced vehicles off the roads and only those of security forces and emergency services were being allowed to move.

Geelani has demanded an 'impartial' inquiry into the blast.

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