Mobile data services were slowed across the Kashmir Valley on Monday (March 2) as authorities moved to contain tensions following widespread protests over the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Officials described the curbs as a precautionary step aimed at preventing the spread of rumours and maintaining public order. According to the authorities, the step was taken as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in the area.

Security was significantly tightened in Srinagar, particularly around Lal Chowk, after a large protest on Sunday caught agencies off guard. Hundreds of police personnel and paramilitary forces, some equipped with riot gear and automatic weapons, were deployed across key junctions in the summer capital. High-speed mobile internet was throttled across all networks in the Valley, with officials confirming that bandwidth had been reduced to restrict rapid communication.

Khamenei was killed in an airstrike in Tehran on Saturday during a joint Israel-US attack on Iran. Iranian state media confirmed the same on Sunday, triggering a wave of protests and mourning across the world, including India.

In Kashmir, which has an estimated 15 lakh Shia residents, demonstrations were reported from Lal Chowk, Saida Kadal, Budgam, Bandipora, Anantnag and Pulwama. Protesters beat their chests and raised anti-US and anti-Israel slogans while carrying religious flags and posters bearing Khamenei’s image.

Clashes were reported at Jehangir Chowk, Bemina and Shalteng when groups attempted to march towards Lal Chowk. Security forces fired teargas shells and used force to disperse the crowds. 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.

Officials said there were no reports of injuries, adding that attempts by protesters to reach the city centre were foiled. Lal Chowk and adjoining markets remained shut through the day, giving the area a deserted appearance. Public and private transport services were largely off the roads in central Srinagar, though partial business activity and limited vehicular movement were seen in some peripheral localities.

Shutdowns and protests were also reported from Baramulla, Budgam and parts of the Chenab Valley, including Kishtwar and Doda districts, where varying degrees of closure were observed. In Kargil district of Ladakh, political and religious groups announced a seven-day mourning period. Shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed there 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.

Leaders including Srinagar Member of Parliament Agha Syed Ruhullah Mehdi took to X on Monday.

“Bravo Jammu and Kashmir police for this. Netanyahu must be happy with you,” he said taking a jibe at the situation.

As tensions simmered, the police issued a formal advisory to media outlets, calling for restraint in coverage.

“Please refrain from publishing unverified information, speculation, or rumours; ensure that all reports are confirmed through credible and authoritative sources before dissemination; and avoid sensational headlines that may create unnecessary panic,” the advisory read.

The police said responsible and accurate reporting is essential to maintain public trust and prevent misinformation.