The shutdown, called by the hard-line separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, locked down businesses and public transport in capital city and other major and minor towns in Kashmir Valley.

Authorities made heavy deployments of police and Indian paramilitary, central reserve police force (CRPF) troops in capital Srinagar especially the trouble-prone old city to maintain law and order.

The strike also shut schools and colleges in capital Srinagar where attendance in government offices was also very low.

Reports from other towns said the strike had a crippling effect on normal life Tuesday.