Protests against Khamenei's killing: Curbs remain for 3rd consecutive day in Kashmir

Srinagar: Strict restrictions remained imposed in many areas of Kashmir for the third consecutive day on Wednesday following massive protests across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh against the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israel airstrike.

Restrictions are likely to continue in many areas of Kashmir on Thursday as well. Educational institutions will be shut till Saturday. While mobile internet speed will also continue to remain restricted, calling on prepaid phones may be suspended in some areas.

Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in all major roads across the Valley. Businesses remained shut in most of the areas and traffic movement was sparse. Residency Road leading to the clock tower in the Srinagar city centre of Lal Chowk remained sealed for the third consecutive day with barricades erected and concertina wire spread on all roads leading to the tower. Thousands of people had gathered here on March 1 to protest and mourn the killing of Khamenei.


Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti burnt the posters of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The posters also featured the picture of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "I stand in peace with those who stand in peace with you and in opposition to those who oppose you until the day of judgement," said Mufti.

The Jammu and Kashmir police have filed a case against National Conference Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, and former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu, for allegedly circulating misleading content under sections 197(1)(d) and 353(1)(b) of the BNS at cyber police station in Srinagar.

"The same administration that could not find the courage to condemn a sovereign nation's leader being martyred now finds the courage to book the one man who did...the people of Srinagar did not elect their MP to recite government approved condolences. They elected him to speak the truth. That mandate does not expire with an FIR," Ruhullah wrote on X in response to the police action.