Nusrat Sidiq
06 March 2026•Update: 06 March 2026
SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir
Strict restrictions continued across parts of Indian-administered Kashmir for the fifth consecutive day on Friday, following massive protests over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Kashmiri religious leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said he has been placed under house arrest due to the restrictions.
“Restrictions in the valley continue and have been heightened on a Friday in the holy month of Ramadan. I have also been placed under house arrest,” Farooq said on US social media company X.
"In these greatly blessed days, when thousands come to mosques seeking blessings and guidance, the pulpit of the masjid is silent and the lanes leading to it are barricaded. It is very sad and unfortunate," he added.
Expressing solidarity with the people of Iran and Palestine, Farooq said people across the regions of Kashmir, Jammu, and Ladakh are "saddened and aggrieved" by Israeli and American actions in the Middle East.
Authorities earlier ordered the closure of educational institutions until Saturday and throttled mobile internet and prepaid mobile services as a “precautionary measure.”
Police urged restraint and warned of strict action against those involved in violence or unlawful activities.
Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel has been put in place across the region, with barricades and concertina wire installed at several locations, particularly in Shia-majority areas and known protest hotspots.
The iconic Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) at Lal Chowk in the capital of Srinagar remained sealed after witnessing large demonstrations on Sunday, a day after the US and Israel carried out a joint military offensive against Iran, hitting Tehran where Khamenei was killed.
While limited public transport and some businesses briefly reopened on Thursday, the region observed a near-total shutdown again on Friday.
Earlier on Wednesday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met with civil society members and religious leaders to calm tensions and urged people to maintain peace.
The protests erupted amid escalating tensions in the Middle East after the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28, killing Khamenei and more than 1,000 others, including dozens of schoolgirls.
Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting US-linked sites in Gulf countries, resulting in multiple fatalities. Six US service members have reportedly been killed and several others injured.
The government of India has expressed “anxiety” over the escalating tensions in the Middle East and reiterated its call for dialogue and an early end to the conflict.
