Thousands of people took to the streets across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday (March 28) to mark Al-Quds Day, an annual global event expressing solidarity with Palestine.

Protesters, waving banners and chanting slogans against Israeli occupation, gathered in multiple locations across the region, including Kashmir and Ladakh.

However, the demonstrations took a controversial turn as the Jammu and Kashmir Police registered cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against organizers and participants in certain areas, citing alleged pro-Hezbollah slogans and flag-waving.

The protests, held on the last Friday of Ramadan, saw significant participation from men, women, and children, who carried placards reading “Free Palestine” and called for an end to what they termed Israeli oppression.

Pro-Palestine demostration in Srinagar. Photo: Adil Abbas

In Kargil, Ladakh, large processions moved through crowded marketplaces, voicing support for the Palestinian cause. Similar protests unfolded in the Budgam and Baramulla districts of Kashmir, where demonstrators reportedly raised slogans against Israel and the United States. Some protesters were seen carrying Hezbollah flags and banners featuring Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Authorities reacted swiftly, with police registering a case under the stringent UAPA following protests in Baramulla’s Pattan area. An official confirmed that an FIR (No. 49/2025) had been filed at the Pattan police station, though specific sections of the anti-terror law invoked were not disclosed. 

“In Chainabal, Baramulla district, some protesters were seen waving Hezbollah flags and shouting slogans that could incite public unrest. These actions encourage elements associated with terrorism to engage in subversive activities and attempt to revive terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir,” a police statement read.

In Budgam’s Beerwah area, another case was registered against demonstrators under Sections 126(2) (wrongful restraint) and 189(6) (unlawful assembly) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police accused the organizers of blocking the Sonpah-Beerwah road, disrupting public movement.

“The attempt to create a law-and-order situation forced authorities to intervene,” a police spokesperson stated.

An FIR (No. 33/2025) has been lodged at the Beerwah police station in connection with the protest.

Despite police action, pro-Palestinian demonstrations continued across the Valley, with reports of protests in Srinagar’s Bemina area and several parts of Budgam and Baramulla districts. Slogans such as “Murdabad, Murdabad, Israel Murdabad” (Down with Israel) and “Ae zalimo, ae qafiro, Bait-ul-Muqaddas chhod do” (Oh tyrants, oh infidels, leave Jerusalem) echoed through the streets.

The police crackdown has raised concerns among activists and rights groups, who argue that expressing solidarity with Palestine should not be criminalized. However, authorities maintain that actions perceived as promoting groups linked to terrorism will not be tolerated.

The situation remains tense, with security forces closely monitoring gatherings in sensitive areas.