Protests erupt in Jammu & Kashmir over Khamenei killing
The Shia community in Ajmer today announced a three-day mourning over the killing of Ali Khamenei.
Protests broke out in several parts of India's Jammu and Kashmir, the country's only Muslim-majority region, today (1 March) over the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israel strike.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets in areas with large Shia populations across the Kashmir Valley and in parts of Jammu, including Bhatindi on the outskirts of Jammu city and Chanderkote in Ramban district, PTI reported from Srinagar, citing officials.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah appealed for calm as police assessed the overall law and order situation.
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His father and the president of the ruling National Conference, Farooq Abdullah, expressed "profound anguish" over the assassination.
"Abdullah has strongly denounced the act, describing it as a tragic and destabilising development with serious implications for peace and stability in the region," the party said in a statement.
The former chief minister said such incidents deepen uncertainty and grief, stressing the urgent need for wisdom, restraint, and adherence to the principles of justice and international law.
Muslim organisations in Lucknow, the capital city of India's most populous state, expressed grief and anger over the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and announced protest and prayer programmes.
All India Shia Personal Law Board general secretary Maulana Yasoob Abbas said a large protest and a condolence meeting will be held at the Chhota Imambara this evening.
Effigies of US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be burnt during the protest, he said.
The Shia community in Ajmer today announced a three-day mourning over the killing of Ali Khamenei.
The announcement was made by Syed Asif Ali, a community leader, who appealed to members of the Shia community to observe mourning.
Condolence meetings were also organised at Dargah in Dorai and Taragarh in Ajmer where members of the community offered prayers and expressed grief over the incident.
In Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Conference President Sajad Gani Lone said the killing of Ali Khamenei was "sad and brutal".
In a statement, Lone said, "The developments in Iran and the Gulf region are distressing to say the least. And extremely sad and brutal is the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei. I pray for peace in Iran and the Gulf region."
