Protesters in Myanmar are going on a "silent strike" after a seven-year-old girl was shot dead in her father's arms by security forces on Tuesday.
She is the youngest victim yet in the military's bloody crackdown on civilian opposition to its February 1 coup.
The young girl, named Khin Myo Chit, was sitting in her father's lap in her home in the city of Mandalay when security forces kicked down the door.
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Soldiers asked the father if everyone in the family was present in the house.
When he said yes, they accused him of lying and shot at him, hitting the girl instead, local news organisation Myanmar Now reported, quoting the victim's older sister.
She was one of 275 people documented as being killed by Myanmar's military junta so far, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners – although the real number is likely far higher.
Violence in the stricken nation has rapidly escalated as the junta attempt to crack down on widespread resistance to their forced takeover on February 1, headed by coup-leader General Min Aung Hlaing.
The coup overturned a democratic election and ousted Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
The coup and subsequent bloodshed have attracted worldwide condemnation, with the European Union and the United States imposing sanctions on individuals and groups linked to the coup, but it has done little to stem the bloodshed.
Despite the escalating violence, tens of thousands in Myanmar continue to flood the streets to protest the regime, with doctors, teachers and even Buddhist monks joining their ranks.
However, on Wednesday the protesters changed tactics, instead taking part in a "silent strike", with businesses and shops remaining closed and people staying inside their homes, with the aim of shutting down entire towns and cities.
The junta had been attempting to reopen the nation's economy after months of chaos.
But the pacifist approach did little to temper the brutality, with staff from supermarkets and department store chains who refused to work rounded up and detained, according to Myanmar Now.
At the same time, around 600 people who had been detained during the protests were released, including Associated Press journalist Thein Zaw.
Thein Zaw told the Associated Press by phone following a court hearing on Wednesday that all charges had been dropped because he was doing his job at the time of his arrest.
Zaw was arrested during a street protest in Yangon on February 27.
He had been charged with violating a public order law that carries a penalty of up to three years' imprisonment, according to the Associated Press.
More than 2000 detainees remain behind bars on various charges, and there have been dozens of forced disappearances.
Among them is the older brother of slain girl, Khin Myo Chit.
The family had already fled their home earlier that day, fearing the military would attempt to seize her body.
May Thu, the older sister of the dead girl, told Myanmar Now that the military returned to their home around 11pm that night, broke down the door and ransacked the house.
Khin's 19-year-old brother was beaten with the butts of guns until bloody and taken away.
