Srinagar, March 6: Security forces remained on high alert on Friday morning in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk in Jammu and Kashmir as a precautionary measure following protests by Shia Muslims against the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Protests erupted across India after the Iranian Supreme Leader was killed in airstrikes on February 28, with demonstrators expressing anger at the US and Israel.
On Wednesday, the Shia community held a peaceful protest in Srinagar, mourning Khamenei’s death.
Earlier demonstrations were reported in Bandipora and Ramban. In Ramban, protesters raised slogans such as, “Tum kitne Hosseini maroge…har ghar se Hosseini niklega” (How many Hosseini will you kill? From every home, a Hosseini will rise), and burnt an effigy of US President Donald Trump.
In Bandipora, protesters carried portraits of the late cleric, expressing grief and condemning the incident. Similar protests were also held earlier in Budgam and Srinagar following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri signed the condolence book at the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi on behalf of the Government of India, expressing sympathy. During his visit, he conveyed India’s message of condolences to the Ambassador of Iran to India, Mohammad Fathali.
The Iranian Embassy also lowered its flag to half-mast following Khamenei’s death.
This comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel strike on Iranian territory on February 28 killed Khamenei and other senior figures, prompting strong retaliation from Tehran.
In response, Iran launched waves of drone and missile attacks across multiple Arab countries, marking the conflict’s seventh day. Tehran’s counter-strikes have also targeted American military bases and Israeli assets, while Israel continued strikes on Tehran and extended the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah. (Agency)
