Fresh protests broke out in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district on Wednesday denouncing the Israeli assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon. The agitation was reportedly organised at the Magam market area and Budgam town of the central Kashmir district on the fourth day of mourning of Nasrallah, due to which several shops remained shut in the locality.
The Hezbollah leader was killed on Saturday and he was laid to rest a day later. On Wednesday, people, including men, women and children, assembled on the main roads in the Magam market area and Budgam town, carrying black flags, and protesting against the killing, news agency PTI reported quoting officials said.
They reportedly chanted anti-Israel and anti-US slogans, denouncing Nasrallah's killing in Israeli airstrikes on Saturday.
As per officials, protests were by and large peaceful, as a large posse of police personnel maintained vigil to ensure that the demonstrations did not turn violent.
Religious ceremonies were also held in the area to commemorate the 4th day of the Hezbollah chief's death. People in the area praised Iran for daring to challenge Israel and America and vowed their support in case of an all-out war.
Earlier, protests broke out in Budgam on Saturday in response to Nasrallah's killing by the Israel Defence Force (IDF). The Israeli military had earlier in the day said that it had "eliminated" Nasrallah, the long-time leader of the Hezbollah militant group, in a precision airstrike in Beirut on the previous day.
The People's Democratic party chief Mehbooba Mufti also put her poll campaign on hold for ongoing J&K assembly elections for a day in solidarity with Palestine and Lebanon after Nasarallah's death.