Leh, March 1 Hundreds of mourners, mostly from the Shia Muslim community, took to the streets across Ladakh on Sunday to protest the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a joint US-Israeli military strike.
Wearing predominantly black and carrying portraits of the deceased leader, men and women marched through major towns, including Leh and Kargil, raising slogans against the United States and Israel.
The demonstrations, spread across several localities, saw significant participation and brought normal traffic to a standstill in parts of the twin districts.
Despite the large turnout and charged atmosphere, the protests remained peaceful, with no untoward incidents reported from anywhere in the region, officials said.
Emotional scenes unfolded as mourners gathered to express grief and solidarity. Many described the development as a profound loss for the global Shia Muslim community.
In Kargil, religious organizations announced a seven-day mourning period, including two days of processions to denounce the US-Israel military action against Iran. Special prayers were offered for the deceased leader, and the groups said condolence gatherings would continue for 40 days at the Jamia Masjid in Kargil.
In Leh, Anjuman Imamia and Majlis-e-Ulama announced that they plan to hold a Gayibana Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayers in absentia), most likely on Monday, with the final schedule yet to be announced.
Authorities continued to monitor the situation, while appealing to residents to maintain peace and communal harmony.