Srinagar: Authorities fired teargas shells and clashed with protesters in parts of Kashmir on Monday (March 2) amid a partial-to-complete shutdown called against the assassination of Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in still ongoing strikes by Israel and the United States.Several hundreds of police and paramilitary forces – some in riot gear, others with automatic rifles – patrolled the roads of the summer capital Srinagar, especially around Lal Chowk in the city centre, where a massive protest on Sunday took the security agencies by surprise.Spools of concertina wire were spread out on roads and bridges leading to the city centre and walls of tin sheets were erected around the historic clock tower, a tourist hotspot that was taken over by thousands of agitated protesters, including women and children, after Iranian state media confirmed news of Khamenei’s assassination on Sunday.A police official posted at a barricade near a foot bridge over Jhelum river in Srinagar’s Rajbagh area told The Wire that the scenes at the clock tower on Sunday were a reminder of “Burhan Wani era”, a reference to the mass agitations held during 2016 in Kashmir.Around 100 youngsters were killed in violent clashes with security forces following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Wani in 2016, and their funerals attracted massive and surcharged crowds which at times took out their anger on security forces.“No one knew what was going to happen,” the official, who is not authorised to speak with the media, said, recounting the hours leading up to afternoon prayers on Sunday after Khamenei’s assassination. At least 10,000 people, per an official estimate, attended the prayer at the clock tower.“One small mischief could have escalated in a massive confrontation. Even the senior officers were helplessly watching the crowds.”Police fire teargas at people protesting the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint air strikes by the US and Israel. Monday, March 2, 2026. Photo: S Irfan/PTI.To prevent a repeat of the situation on Monday, authorities stepped up the presence of security forces in Srinagar and other areas of Kashmir where mostly Shia Muslims live. Mobile internet services were also restricted.However, clashes broke out at multiple places in Srinagar including Jehangir Chowk, Bemina and Shalteng where security forces fired teargas shells and also thrashed some protesters to prevent them from marching towards Lal Chowk.At the scene of one such clash in Jehangir Chowk, a veiled young woman in a black chadar waved a large religious flag while her companions scrambled for cover as greyish-blue smoke from a teargas canister fired by the security forces filled the air.“Martyrdom is our goal. We are ready to sacrifice our lives, our children and our properties in the honour of our supreme leader. You can’t scare us away,” the woman, who couldn’t be identified immediately, screamed at security personnel.There are no reports of injuries during the clashes as security forces foiled attempts by protesters, who carried religious flags and posters of Khamenei, to reach the city centre.Leaders including Srinagar Member of Parliament Agha Syed Ruhullah Mehdi took to X on Monday:تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّBravo @JmuKmrPolice for this. Netanyahu must be happy with you pic.twitter.com/jgpIPWj26a— Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi (@RuhullahMehdi) March 2, 2026All shops and business establishments at Lal Chowk were closed, and it wore a deserted look on Monday. Private as well as public transportation was off the roads. However, shops were partially open and thin vehicular movement was observed on the outskirts of the city.Reports of shutdown and anti-US and anti-Israel protests were also received from other areas of Jammu and Kashmir, including Baramulla and Budgam as well as Chenab Valley, where, too, a partial-to-complete shutdown was observed on Monday, including in Kishtwar and Doda districts.A shutdown was also observed in the Kargil district of Ladakh where seven-day mourning has been announced by political and religious groups after Khamenei’s assassination.According to reports, shops, business establishments as well as educational institutions were closed in the district on Monday.Strict restrictions were clamped in parts of Jammu and Kashmire on Monday after Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulama, the leading conglomerate of religious bodies in the Union Territory, headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, urged people “to rise above divisions” and observe a shutdown with “dignity and complete peacefulness” against Khamenei’s assassination.The call was backed by the Peoples Democratic Party headed by former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.Authorities responded to the call by restricting mobile internet services in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, and the government ordered closure of all educational institutions for two days including tomorrow, Tuesday, as the situation continues to remain volatile.Mobile internet restrictions were in force for the second consecutive day on Monday with no word from authorities on when the curbs would be ended.Meanwhile, security forces are on high alert across Jammu and Kashmir after Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued an advisory to all state and Union Territories over the possibility of violence breaking out in the aftermath of Khamenei’s assassination.Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a review meeting in Jammu on Sunday along with chief secretary Atal Dulloo, director general of police Nalin Prabhat and others to assess the security situation while urging communities to remain calm and united.“Peace is a collective responsibility. I urge all communities to remain calm and united in this hour. I salute the unwavering, synchronised resolve of our Police, security forces and civil administration upholding law and order,” he said.