Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s killing sparks protests across India, Shia community announces mourning
Protests and mourning were reported from several parts of India on Sunday after news broke that Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike in Tehran.
Iranian state media confirmed his death a day after the strike, stating that he was killed during coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel. The development triggered grief and anger among sections of the Shia community in India, leading to demonstrations in multiple states.
In Jammu and Kashmir, which has a significant Shia population, large gatherings were reported in Lal Chowk, Saida Kadal, Budgam, Bandipora, Anantnag and Pulwama. Protesters were seen mourning openly, beating their chests and raising slogans against the US and Israel.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah appealed for calm and expressed concern over the situation. In a statement shared by his office on X, he urged people to maintain peace and avoid actions that could disturb law and order. He also said the state government was coordinating with the Union Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safety of residents from Jammu and Kashmir, including students currently in Iran.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah described the killing as deeply distressing and called on authorities to handle the situation with sensitivity, allowing people to mourn respectfully. Kashmir’s chief priest Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also condemned the strike, saying it had shaken the Muslim world.
In Lucknow, people gathered near the Bara Imambara mosque, holding posters of Khamenei and raising slogans. Maulana Yasoob Abbas of the All India Shia Personal Law Board announced a three-day mourning period. He said community members would wear black, hoist black flags at their homes and organise special prayers. Plans were also announced to burn effigies of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during protests.
Protests were also reported from Punjab, including Ludhiana, where demonstrators demanded that the central government declare a week-long national mourning. Similar scenes were witnessed in parts of New Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand and Telangana, where people voiced their anger over the military actions.
In Ajmer, the Shia community announced a three-day mourning period. Condolence meetings were held at religious sites in Dorai and Taragarh, with leaders urging people to suspend celebrations and focus on prayers.
In Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur district, where villagers say Khamenei had visited in 1986, shops and commercial establishments remained closed as a mark of respect. Residents declared three days of mourning and suspended public events to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.
Meanwhile, reports said several Indian devotees were stranded in Dubai after return flights were cancelled following tensions in the region.
(with inputs from agencies)
