Indian authorities crackdown on protests in Kashmir

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in India-controlled Kashmir to protest and mourn the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Demonstrations took place in Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Pulwama and Kargil.

Protesters carried black flags and portraits of Khamenei, chanting anti-America and anti-Israel slogans.

In the days leading up to the strikes, Kashmiris had already reported a heightened security presence across the valley.

After news of the killing broke, authorities appeared braced for unrest, deploying forces and slowing the internet. There were several cases of Indian forces charging protesters, sources on the ground told MEE.

Kashmir is a majority Sunni region, but it is home to a large Shia population that make up around 10-15 percent of the population.

Support for Khamenei in Kashmir is across the board, with Mirwaiz Mohammad Umar Farooq of the Jamia Masjid issuing a condemnation of his killing and calling for a strike in Kashmir on Monday.

In Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, there were significant protests as well, with unconfirmed reports that a UN office was set alight.

The Jammu and Kashmir government in India-controlled Kashmir called for the closure of all educational institutions for the next two days.

Kashmir has a centuries-old cultural and linguistic connection with Iran, and was known as “Little Iran” as a result of the scale of influence.