Shia Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir continued protests for a second consecutive day on Monday, carrying portraits of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and raising black flags, in demonstrations that mark the return of street protests in the Kashmir Valley after a long lull.
Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader was killed in a US-Israeli strike on Sunday.
Authorities imposed strict restrictions in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley as a precautionary measure, while internet services were slowed across Kashmir.
The government ordered the closure of educational institutions across the region for two days as a precautionary measure.
Despite the curbs, groups of protesters took to the streets at several locations in Srinagar, condemning the killing of Khamenei, reports said.
Police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators in parts of the city, officials and witnesses said.
Authorities sealed off Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of Kashmir, after thousands of protesters gathered there to demonstrate against the killing.
“This is not a spectacle. It is a genuine protest against the United States and Israel. We are mourning the killing of our spiritual leader,” a protester said.
Protests were also reported from Ramban and Poonch districts of the Jammu division, local residents said.
On Sunday, members of the Shia community also staged a protest in the Bathindi area of Jammu, chanting elegies in mourning as they marched through the streets.
Post-2019 calm broken
It is the first time since 2019 that such demonstrations have been held in the Valley. The abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent dismantling of separatist networks had largely brought an end to the shutdown calendars that were frequently issued by Hurriyat leaders, significantly curbing street protests in the region. However, chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called for a strike on Monday.
“This marks an unusual moment in the Valley’s post-2019 political climate,” said a Srinagar-based political analyst.
“While organised separatist mobilisation has completely ended, calls for shutdowns by religious or symbolic leadership still retain the ability to influence public sentiment and bring people onto the streets,” he added.
Published on March 2, 2026