In occupied Kashmir, complete shutdown was observed in all districts of the Kashmir Valley and Banihal in Jammu region against the attacks by Hindu mobs on the Kashmiris in Jammu and India.
Call for the strike was given by several trade bodies and was supported by High Court Bar Association of the occupied territory.
All shops and other business establishments were closed and public transport was off the roads.
The authorities suspended mobile Internet services in the territory.
Strict restrictions were imposed to prevent anti-India protests.
The situation remained tense in Jammu for the third consecutive day, today, as more than 2000 people were forced to take shelter in a masjid in Bathindi area, fearing attacks from Hindu mobs.
Kashmiri students staying as tenants in Uttarakhand and Haryana states were asked to vacate the houses.
The Bar association appealed to the international community including the United Nations, Amnesty International and Asia Watch to come to the rescue of the hapless people of Kashmir.
The forum led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq reacting to Indian authorities’ statement about withdrawing the so-called security from the Hurriyat leaders in a statement said the move has neither bearing nor can it change the reality of the lingering Kashmir dispute.
Former leader of opposition and President of Punjabi Ekta Party, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, in his Facebook remarks said that the Indian army personnel were involved in excesses like molestation and fake encounters in occupied Kashmir.
Meanwhile, a retired Indian military General, who served as commander in occupied Kashmir in 2016, has called for caution following Pulwama blast and Indian government's baseless allegations against Pakistan.
Talking to Associated Press, the retired commander, Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda, called for all sides to take a step back from the deadly confrontation and take political initiatives.
Terming India's constant hype of surgical strikes as unwarranted, Hooda said he hopes for rethinking and reconciliation from all sides in the conflict.
He also expressed the hope that all this will lead to some introspection, deep thinking and engagement to do everything afresh all sides need to do to settle the issue once for all.