Authorities in Kashmir have extended security restrictions after large-scale protests followed reports of the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Media reports said Khamenei was killed in a joint United States-Israel military strike on 28 February. The reports triggered widespread demonstrations across the Kashmir Valley, a Muslim-majority region with historic cultural links to Iran.
Thousands of people marched through the streets in several districts, carrying black flags and chanting slogans. Protesters also blocked roads in some areas. Security forces were deployed in large numbers, and schools, colleges and government offices were ordered to close as a precaution.
A senior security official confirmed on 3 March that restrictions would remain in place. “The situation is being closely monitored, and necessary measures are in place to maintain peace,” the official said.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs issued a nationwide alert, advising all states and Union Territories to stay vigilant amid fears of possible unrest.
In Srinagar’s Zadibal area, some protesters described the reported killing as a personal loss. They said Khamenei was seen not only as a global Islamic leader but also as a figure whose leadership held spiritual meaning for many in Kashmir.
Religious leaders urged demonstrators to remain peaceful. Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari, a prominent Shia cleric, called on mourners to express their grief with dignity and avoid violence.
Officials said that despite the scale of the protests, the situation remained under control.
Observers note that Kashmir has longstanding cultural and religious ties with Iran. Between the 14th and 18th centuries, Persian influence shaped the region’s literature, art and administration. Under Muslim rulers such as Zain-ul-Abideen, Persian became the court language, and the region was sometimes referred to as “Iran-e-Sageer”, meaning “Little Iran”.
The developments have added to tensions in the sensitive Himalayan region, where authorities continue to monitor public gatherings closely.
This article is a rewritten version of a report published by UCA News. The original article can be found here.
