Tensions from the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict reached Indian soil today as members of Islamist and Shia Muslim organizations mobilized in Chennai, attempting to march on and effectively lay siege to the US Consulate (often referred to locally as the Deputy Consulate). The protest was a direct response to the confirmed killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli airstrike late Saturday.
The operation, involving precision strikes on leadership compounds in Tehran, was announced by US President Donald Trump as a decisive blow against what he called “one of the most evil figures in history.”
Israeli sources described it as part of coordinated efforts to neutralize Iran’s top command and related threats. Iranian authorities verified Khamenei’s death at age 86, triggering nationwide mourning, vows of severe retaliation, and a 40-day period of grief.
The backlash has been swift and violent globally. In Pakistan’s Karachi, hundreds stormed the US Consulate, smashing windows, setting fires, and clashing with security forces, resulting in at least 8-10 deaths and dozens injured according to multiple reports. Protesters in Baghdad attempted to breach the Green Zone near the US Embassy, while demonstrations erupted across the Muslim world, including in parts of India such as Srinagar, Lucknow, and Hyderabad.
In Chennai, crowds from various Muslim groups, including Shia supporters, gathered near the US diplomatic facility in the morning. Carrying portraits of Khamenei and chanting slogans condemning the US and Israel, they tried to advance toward the consulate in large numbers. Tamil news channels like Polimer News captured scenes of rows of protesters being blocked by police barricades.
Officers formed human chains and used crowd control measures to prevent any direct approach or breach of the perimeter.Video footage and photos from the scene show demonstrators expressing grief and solidarity with Iran, viewing the airstrike as an attack on the Islamic Republic and its revolutionary legacy. Some reports described the effort as an attempted “siege” or encirclement, though authorities quickly contained the situation, dispersing the crowd without reported injuries or major escalation at the site.
Local police emphasized rapid intervention to maintain order around the sensitive diplomatic area. Security has been visibly tightened at US and Israeli-linked facilities across India, including in Hyderabad where similar precautions were taken amid protest fears.
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