Shabir Ali
Fury has swept across the Kashmir Valley as massive protests erupt over the assassination of Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, killed in a brutal Israeli airstrike on Friday.
Shortly after news of the killing broke, crowds poured into the streets, condemning the assassination of the Hezbollah leader who had been a steadfast supporter of Palestine and its people throughout his life.
His military support to Palestinian militant groups persisted despite pressure from Israel and the United States to cease aid to pro-Palestinian militias. This support came to an end only with his death in an Israeli airstrike on Friday afternoon in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital.
Along with many other parts of the Muslim world, people poured onto the streets in Kashmir’s capital city expressing grief and mourning over the killing.
The protests continued till late night and both Sunni and Shia Muslims participated in candle light and other marches taken out in various parts of Kashmir valley including Srinagar, Budgam.
On Sunday morning, protests have begun again and more are scheduled for the day. In many parts of Srinagar, people have shut down their shops to condemn the killing of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
Locals told The Kashmiriyat that along with several areas, a complete shutdown is being observed in Magam, Budgam, Hussaini Chowk, Hassanabad, Zadibal and Saida Kadal areas of Kashmir.
“This is not just a Shia-Sunni issue. We have to acknowledge that irrespective of the ideological differences that he (Nasrallah) was one of the few persons who stood with Palestine consistently and that is why he was killed. Let us not act blind to that,” said Adil Mir, a Ph.D. scholar from Amira Kadal Srinagar said.
Meanwhile, the political circles in Kashmir have expressed grief over the killing of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah with two prominent politicians calling off their campaigns to mourn the killing.
Cancelling my campaign tomorrow in solidarity with the martyrs of Lebanon & Gaza especially Hassan Nasarullah. We stand with the people of Palestine & Lebanon in this hour of immense grief & exemplary resistance.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) September 28, 2024
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter expressing grief over the killing. She wrote, “Cancelling my campaign tomorrow in solidarity with the martyrs of Lebanon & Gaza especially Hassan Nasarullah. We stand with the people of Palestine & Lebanon in this hour of immense grief & exemplary resistance.”
Member parliament Srinagar Aga Ruhullah Mehdi also cancelled his campaign and joined the protestors in Srinagar.