Omar Abdullah urges calm amid protests, warns of anti-national plot to trigger unrest in Kashmir

Amid ongoing anti-US and anti-Israel protests in different parts of the Union Territory over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today cautioned that some anti-national elements, under the guise of mourners, were trying to create law and order problems to accomplish their evil designs.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and called for calm across the Kashmir Valley, even as he acknowledged that anti-social elements were exploiting the charged atmosphere to pursue “nefarious designs”.

Addressing the public amid a wave of protests that have swept the Valley since Khamenei’s death, Abdullah urged citizens to channel their grief and anger through lawful, peaceful means — and warned against allowing the situation to spiral into disorder.

“Some elements are trying to spoil the atmosphere, and reports of incidents are coming in from certain places,” the Chief Minister said while interacting with media persons at Jammu.
“I do not want any misuse of force by the police or central paramilitary forces resulting in people getting injured or, God forbid, anyone losing their life. That would be deeply unfortunate.”
While expressing understanding of public sentiment, Abdullah stressed the importance of emotional restraint at a volatile time.

“I can understand their emotions — how can one not feel angry? But in such circumstances, it is most important to keep those emotions in check,” he said, appealing to religious and community leaders to guide their followers toward peace.

“You have every right to express your anger, resentment, and your faith — but you must keep the law in mind. Please do not take the law into your own hands,” he added.

The Chief Minister also flagged reports of stone-pelting at several locations in the Kashmir Valley since Monday. Cops resorted to mild lathi charge and fired some tear gas shells when some miscreants tried to assault a Deputy Superintendent of Police during anti-US and anti-Israel protests.

The Chief Minister cautioned that such incidents were forcing the government’s hand. “Due to such incidents, the government is compelled to take stricter measures,” he said, while reiterating that the administration’s aim was to restore normalcy and allow citizens to go about their lives freely and peacefully at the earliest.

Abdullah further noted that while some protest permissions had been granted, others had subsequently been withdrawn, underscoring the need for demonstrations to be conducted in a manner that did not endanger other citizens.

Agencies warn against evil designs of anti-national elements

Meanwhile, reports said that intelligence agencies have sounded a high alert across the Kashmir Valley, cautioning that anti-national elements may attempt to exploit the prevailing situation amid protests over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

While several groups have been holding demonstrations in different parts of the Valley to express grief and anger over the killing of Khamenei, credible intelligence inputs indicate that certain disruptive forces are planning to infiltrate these gatherings. These elements, agencies fear, could pose as mourners or sympathisers in order to instigate violence and derail peaceful protests.

Sources in the security establishment said the suspected strategy involves provoking emotionally charged crowds into clashing with security personnel, pelting stones, blocking highways, and vandalising public and private property. Such acts, officials believe, are aimed at triggering a cycle of confrontation that could escalate into widespread unrest.

“Some forces are desperate to exploit the sentiments of the people and push the Valley back into the pre-2019 period of agitational terrorism,” a senior intelligence official said, adding that the timing of such attempts indicates a calculated design to create law-and-order challenges.