Srinagar, Feb 2 (IANS) A general strike called by Jammu and Kashmir's separatist Hurriyat Conference against the killing of a teenaged boy by a teargas shell crippled life in the valley Tuesday.

The strike was complete in the summer capital Srinagar with shops and businesses shut and traffic off the roads. The protest by both the moderate and hardline factions of the Hurriyat Conference evoked near complete response in other towns of the valley too.

There was heavy security with police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel patrolling sensitive areas of the city and other towns.

The teenager was killed Sunday evening when he was hit on the head by a teargas shell near Rajouri Kadal in the old city.

The tension began right in the morning when angry youth appeared in parts of the old city and uptown and pelted stones on police personnel and passing vehicles. Similar reports came in from Anantnag, Baramulla, Sopore and Bandipore.