Rare protests return to Kashmir streets after killing of Iran’s Khamenei

Srinagar: Protests erupted in multiple parts of Kashmir on Sunday following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a reported joint US-Israel strike, officials said.

The demonstrations come at a time when street protests, stone-pelting and hartals — once a routine feature of life in the Valley — have largely vanished since 2019, making Sunday’s mobilisation particularly significant.

Hundreds of demonstrators, particularly from Shia-majority areas, took to the streets in Srinagar and parts of north Kashmir, marching peacefully while raising anti-US and anti-Israel slogans. Police said the gatherings were largely spontaneous and remained peaceful, though security was stepped up in sensitive areas as a precaution.

In Srinagar, protesters assembled at city center Lal Chowk before moving towards adjoining localities. In the old city’s Saida Kadal area, groups of men and youths carried black flags and portraits of Khamenei, chanting slogans and reciting mourning verses. Traffic was briefly disrupted in parts of downtown as shopkeepers partially downed shutters during the demonstrations.

Similar protests were reported from north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, where residents in villages including Shadipora and Sumbal held marches after afternoon prayers. Eyewitnesses said participants condemned the strike and described Khamenei as a religious figure of global significance. Local clerics addressed gatherings, urging people to remain peaceful while expressing solidarity with Iran.

Iranian state media earlier confirmed that Khamenei was killed in a strike early Sunday, triggering reactions across Shia communities globally. Tehran announced a national mourning period, while tensions in the Middle East escalated amid fears of a wider conflict.

In Budgam district as well, Shia mourners staged protests, holding banners and raising slogans against Washington and Tel Aviv. Police officials said adequate deployments were made across Srinagar, Budgam and Bandipora to prevent any untoward incident. “The situation remained under control. There were no reports of violence,” a senior officer said.

Before 2019, developments in the Muslim world — particularly in Palestine, Iraq or Iran — frequently triggered shutdowns and protests in Kashmir, often accompanied by clashes between youth and security forces. Since the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent security clampdown, however, large-scale public demonstrations have become rare.

Political leaders appealed for calm, urging people not to allow emotions to disturb public order. A police officer said, they hoped by evening, most demonstrations would disperse peacefully, though security forces continued to maintain a visible presence in sensitive pockets as authorities monitored the situation closely.