Protests over Ayatollah Khamenei’s killing in Kashmir: Meta blocks media pages, MP Ruhullah Mehdi booked for ‘misleading content’

SRINAGAR: After large-scale protests over the past two days against the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Jammu and Kashmir government extended the closure of schools and colleges across the Valley until Saturday.

At the same time, Meta blocked several newspaper accounts in the Valley, evoking condemnation from political parties.

Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and Peoples Conference leader Sajad Lone asked Meta to uphold freedom of expression.




Mehbooba said she was concerned over the recent censorship of news organisations such as @GreaterKashmir, @KashmirLife, and @RisingKashmir, whose Facebook and Instagram pages have been taken down.

“Such actions not only silence legitimate voices but also undermine the fundamental right to freedom of expression. The Jammu & Kashmir government must also immediately end any censorship of media in the region,” she said.

Sajad Lone said that the Facebook and Instagram handles of some media institutions had been blocked. “Most of them are responsible, mature institutions and include Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Life and Rising Kashmir. Their absence will do more harm,” he said.

In a statement issued here, weekly newspaper Kashmir Life said that its verified Facebook and Instagram pages had become inaccessible in India since Monday afternoon after Meta restricted access at the request of law enforcement authorities.


The paper said Meta posted an auto-response to the page stating that it had restricted access to the content in India “pursuant to a notice from ‘The Government of India – Law Enforcement’ under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.”

The communication advised the organisation to contact the issuing authority for further information and stated that details regarding content restrictions based on local law are available through Meta’s Transparency Centre. Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, empowers authorities to require intermediaries to disable access to content upon receiving actual knowledge through a court order or government notification.

NC MP, former mayor booked

Police late Tuesday evening registered cases against National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu, accusing them of being involved in “the circulation of false, fabricated and misleading content across digital and social media platforms with the intent to create fear, disturb public order, and incite unlawful activities.” The FIR was registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Cyber Police Station, Srinagar.

Early Wednesday, Mehdi responded, saying that “the same administration that couldn't find the courage to condemn a sovereign nation's leader being martyred now finds the courage to book the one man who did.” “The people of Srinagar did not elect their MP to recite government-approved condolences. They elected him to speak the truth. That mandate does not expire with an FIR,” he added.

LG asks for calm

In a related development, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired two high-level meetings on Tuesday. He chaired a meeting at the Police Control Room in Srinagar to review the law-and-order situation. Sinha, who oversees law and order in J&K, appealed to citizens and community leaders to uphold harmony and contribute to an atmosphere of calm and goodwill in society.

He also chaired a high-level meeting at Lok Bhawan, holding “in-depth deliberations on the prevailing security scenario in the UT of J&K.” The meeting was attended by Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC-in-C), Northern Command; Nalin Prabhat, DGP, J&K; Lieutenant General Prashant Srivastava, GoC 15 Corps; and Major General Balbir Singh, MGGS, Northern Command.

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday stated that some elements were systematically attempting to spread distorted narratives and unverified content with the clear intent to incite unrest, disturb public order, and create disharmony in society. “Such malicious misinformation campaigns pose a grave threat to peace, security, and the integrity of the nation,” the police said, adding that they had registered an FIR at the Cyber Police Station and that strict legal action would follow.

Protests in Kashmir

Protests erupted across Kashmir on Sunday morning as news of Khamenei’s death spread, with large numbers of people in Srinagar marching toward Lal Chowk. Chanting anti-U.S. and anti-Israel slogans, protesters turned the iconic Clock Tower at Lal Chowk into the centre of demonstrations.

Many protesters carried black and red flags symbolising grief and martyrdom, beat their chests in mourning, and held portraits of Khamenei and Iran’s founding leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Some banners were placed at the clock tower.

It was the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, that such large-scale protests have erupted in the Valley. Police have now sealed Lal Chowk.

Despite heavy restrictions on Monday and Tuesday, demonstrations continued in several areas. Police fired tear gas at multiple locations to disperse crowds. Police sources said incidents of stone-throwing were reported in some places. More than a dozen people were injured in Monday’s protests.

Ruling National Conference spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq on Tuesday appealed to the Union home minister and LG Sinha to consider releasing the youths who have been detained over the past two days. He also appealed to Shia protesters to “confine our protest and expression of grief and anger to peaceful means within our homes, mosques, and Imambaras, so that no unrest or unfortunate situation arises.”