Following the confirmation of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death in a joint US-Israeli strike, widespread protests and mourning have broken out across Jammu and Kashmir on March 1, 2026.
Kashmir Mourns Khamenei: Omar Abdullah Calls for Restraint
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah issued an urgent appeal for calm today as thousands of protesters, primarily in Shia-majority areas, took to the streets to express grief and anger over the assassination in Tehran.
Key Developments in the Valley:
- Widespread Protests: Massive demonstrations were reported at Lal Chowk (Srinagar), Budgam, Magam, and parts of North and South Kashmir. Protesters carried portraits of Khamenei and chanted anti-US and anti-Israel slogans.+1
- CM’s Statement: Omar Abdullah emphasized that citizens "must be allowed to grieve peacefully" and urged the police and administration to exercise "utmost restraint" to avoid any escalation of tensions.
- Mirwaiz’s Call for Shutdown: The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), led by chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has called for a complete shutdown across Kashmir tomorrow (Monday, March 2) in solidarity with Iran.
- Deep Reverence: Khamenei, who visited Srinagar in the 1980s, is a highly revered spiritual figure (Marja-e-Taqlid) for the Kashmiri Shia community.
