In Occupied Kashmir, complete shutdown was observed across the territory on Monday against the brutal killing of 18 Kashmiris by Indian troops under the garb of cordon and search operations during the last three days. 

According to Kashmir Media Service, call for the strike was given by the Joint Resistance Leadership.

Call for the shutdown was issued after the killing of eight youth and injuring of 70 others including an eighteen-month old girl child, Hiba Nisar, in the firing of pellets and bullets by the Indian forces in Shopian and Pulwama districts, yesterday.

All shops, business establishments and government and private institutions were closed, while traffic was off the roads in all small and major towns and cities of the occupied territory.  The troops were deployed in strength to prevent protest rallies. Train services remained suspended in the valley.

In a statement, the Joint Resistance Leadership said that Kashmir had been turned into a slaughter house where Indian forces were free to kill, maim and torture civilians and vandalize their property. The leadership urged the people to observe complete shutdown in all poll-bound areas during the sham Panchayat elections, tomorrow.

Addressing a function in Srinagar, Hurriyat Forum Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq urged people to forge greater unity to counter India's aggression in Kashmir. He lashed out at Indian TV channels for launching a venomous propaganda against Kashmiri people.

Meanwhile, Indian police arrested more than thirty youth during raids in Achabal, Hardpora, Breenti, Badoora and Trahpu areas of Islamabad district.