Indian forces repress anti-Israel protest in Srinagar after demonstrations over Iran leader’s killing
Security forces in Kashmir used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters demonstrating against the reported killing of Iran’s supreme leader
SRINAGAR (MNTV) — Security forces in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir used tear gas and batons on Monday to disperse protesters demonstrating against the reported killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Srinagar, triggering fresh restrictions across the disputed Himalayan region.
The crackdown followed large demonstrations a day earlier, when tens of thousands gathered in Srinagar and other towns to protest strikes by Israel and the United States that reportedly killed Ali Khamenei.
Kashmir, a Muslim-majority territory with longstanding cultural and religious ties to Iran, has often seen political mobilisations linked to developments in the wider Middle East.
Video footage shared by Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah appeared to show police personnel striking and beating women protesters during the unrest.
The images circulated widely on social media and drew criticism from local political figures and civil society groups.
Authorities responded by shutting schools and colleges for two days, sealing key commercial areas and barricading major roads with razor wire.
Mobile internet speeds were reduced and large numbers of police and paramilitary forces were deployed across Srinagar, including at Lal Chowk, the city’s main political and commercial hub.
Officials described the measures as precautionary, citing a strike call issued by religious and political groups led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a prominent cleric.
Shops and businesses remained closed in several districts, and security checkpoints intensified, with vehicles stopped and searched.
Major demonstrations were reported in central Srinagar as well as Budgam, Bandipora and other districts of the Kashmir Valley.
Lal Chowk was sealed off to prevent further gatherings.
Kashmir has experienced heightened security controls since 2019, when the Indian government revoked the region’s semi-autonomous status and imposed sweeping administrative changes.
Since then, public assemblies have frequently been met with preventive detentions, communication restrictions and forceful dispersal.
Ayatollah Khamenei visited Kashmir in the early 1980s and received a significant public reception, reflecting historical religious connections between segments of the Kashmiri population and Iran.
The latest unrest highlights how events in West Asia continue to resonate in Jammu and Kashmir, where political expression remains tightly regulated and protests are often treated as security concerns.
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