Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Kashmir on Sunday to mourn the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a U.S.-Israeli strike, authorities and witnesses said. Demonstrations were largely peaceful but prompted traffic diversions and temporary closures in several towns, local media reports said.
Mass gatherings were reported in Srinagar, Budgam, Pulwama, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kargil in Ladakh. Protesters carried portraits of Khamenei and black flags, chanting slogans condemning the United States and Israel. In Srinagar, thousands converged at Lal Chowk’s Ghanta Ghar, with mourners arriving from across the Valley. Shia-majority areas such as Budgam and Kargil saw particularly large turnouts.
Security forces, including police and paramilitary personnel, were deployed in strength across sensitive areas, particularly in Srinagar’s Zadibal locality and other Shia-majority pockets. Officials said arrangements had been intensified in anticipation of public reaction.
Political and religious leaders condemned the strike. Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti called it an act of aggression and expressed solidarity with Iran. Top religious cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, reportedly placed under house arrest, condemned the operation and warned of potential regional escalation. He also highlighted reports of civilian casualties, including schoolgirls in Minab, and called for solidarity with the people of Iran.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah appealed for calm, urging residents to maintain peace and avoid actions that could heighten tensions. The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee postponed all political activities for Sunday in Khamenei’s honour.
The protests disrupted normal life in several areas. Srinagar’s Sunday Market was cancelled, and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board postponed OMR-based written exams for laboratory attendant posts across the Union Territory.
Meanwhile, over 2,000 Indian students pursuing medical degrees in Iran, many from Jammu and Kashmir, appealed to the Government of India for urgent evacuation amid reports of ongoing airstrikes. The All India Medical Students Association’s J&K president, Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, urged the Ministry of External Affairs to take proactive measures to ensure the safety of Indian nationals.
Officials said the demonstrations remained peaceful through the day, with participants dispersing after marches and gatherings, while security forces maintained a high alert in Srinagar and other towns.