Srinagar, April 17: Tibetans held a candlelight protest in the summer capital of Srinagar Thursday evening even as a complete strike was observed in the frontier Leh district of Ladakh region Thursday.

Scores of Tibetans including men, women and children marched through the streets of Srinagar with candles to register their protest against the Olympic torch relay in New Delhi Thursday.

The protestors staged a sit-in at a local park shouting anti-Chinese slogans.

"We want to pay homage to all the Tibetan martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet," a statement issued by the community here said.

"The Chinese government continues to make arbitrary arrests and they have detained 800 Tibetans in a single prison alone. They have been denied basic facilities in detention," it added.

Life in Leh town was paralysed in view of a complete general strike called by the local Buddhists.

Thousands of Buddhists also took out a procession shouting anti-Chinese slogans. Authorities had made elaborate security arrangements in Leh town where shops, businesses, schools and banks remained closed today.