Srinagar: At least 14 people, including six security personnel, were injured on the second day of protests that broke out in Jammu and Kashmir state following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli attack, officials said.
The authorities imposed restrictions to limit the movement of people, closed educational institutes and reduced mobile Internet speeds in the Union Territories as precautionary measures.
According to officials, 75 rallies were held at various places in Kashmir Valley, while some demonstrations were held in Jammu region as well. In Srinagar, authorities closed Lal Chowk Street with barricades, a day after the city center witnessed massive protests against the killing of Khamenei, officials said. They added that security deployment has been enhanced across the region with additional deployment of police personnel and paramilitary forces in sensitive areas.
Amid the increasing restrictions, multiple protests broke out in parts of the Valley, including Bemina, Jehangir Chowk, Shaltang and Jund Hasibhat areas in Srinagar; Budgam. And Bataan.
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While most of the protests were largely peaceful, clashes broke out in a few places, the officials said, adding that 14 people – eight protesters and six security force personnel – were injured during these clashes in the valley.
“There were minor protests in some areas like Bemina and Shaltang in Srinagar, and some of them were contained using tear gas shells. Mild protests were also witnessed in Budgam,” said a police officer familiar with the details, requesting anonymity.
Thousands took to the streets across the country on Sunday to mourn the death of the Shiite leader. Opposition leaders in Karnataka said on Monday that processions held in support of Khamenei should not be allowed in the state.
“Khamenei was a dictator. There was an internal rebellion against him. Atrocities were committed against women there. Thousands of people were shot dead. Despite this, Muslims in many places in India, including Bengaluru, protested in favor of Khamenei,” said BJP and LJP leader in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka.
