Kashmir Valley Under Communication Curbs Following Death of Iran’s Supreme Leader

​Kashmir Valley Under Communication Curbs Following Death of Iran’s Supreme Leader

SRINAGAR, India — Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Monday ordered a sweeping crackdown on telecommunications and mobile data, throttling internet speeds and suspending prepaid services as tens of thousands of mourners took to the streets following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader.

The order from the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department came after a wave of protests swept through the region, triggered by the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint military strike by the United States and Israel.
According to the official directive, mobile data services across the Kashmir Valley have been reduced to 2G speeds, capped at 128Kbps. Prepaid mobile services, including voice calls and SMS, were shut down entirely. The restrictions, which were implemented retroactively to Sunday morning, are scheduled to remain in place until at least 8 p.m. Wednesday.

“There was every apprehension that continuation of the services could disturb public order and security,” the order stated, citing the fallout from the Iranian leader’s death.

In Srinagar, the region’s largest city, the atmosphere was heavy with grief and anger. Black flags hung from windows in Shia-dominated neighborhoods like Budgam and Saida Kadal.

In the iconic Lal Chowk district, thousands gathered around the Ghanta Ghar clock tower, chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” while beating their chests in traditional displays of mourning.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while condemning the strike on Khamenei, appealed for restraint.

“I can understand the emotions, because how can one not feel angry?” Abdullah told reporters on Tuesday. “But in such circumstances, it is most important to control emotions. Please do not take the law into your own hands.”

The regional government has shuttered schools for two days and deployed heavy security to prevent the demonstrations from escalating into wider unrest. On Tuesday, Srinagar police began booking individuals and local media outlets for allegedly spreading “fabricated and misleading information” regarding the protests.

The communication blackout is a familiar tool for administrators in Kashmir, a region that has seen some of the world’s longest internet shutdowns during periods of political turmoil. For the valley’s 1.5 million Shia Muslims, the death of Khamenei is a deeply personal blow, as many regarded him as their primary spiritual and political authority.

“He was not just a leader for Iran; he was a voice for the oppressed everywhere,” said Sajad Hussain, a mourner in Budgam. “Cutting our phones won’t stop our prayers or our tears.”

As of Tuesday evening, security forces continued to patrol empty streets in Srinagar under a thick veil of silence, both physical and digital.