As Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died following a major attack by Israel and the United States, the residents of Alipur village in Gauribidanur taluk of Chickballapur district in Karnataka are gripped by shock, anxiety and grief.
The village, once visited by Khamenei himself, had a rare and deeply personal association with the Iranian leader. He inaugurated a community hospital here in 1981, an event that strengthened Alipur’s spiritual connection with Iran. Long before he rose to become Iran’s most powerful figure, Khamenei had travelled to Alipur as a 41-year-old cleric in the early years of the Islamic Republic, according to residents.
Speaking to The Hindu, Shafeeq Abidi, a well-known Urdu poet and former journalist from Alipur, recalled the visit. “Khamenei visited the village as part of the outreach initiatives launched by the government of Ruhollah Khomeini after it assumed power following the 1979 Islamic Revolution,” Mr. Abidi said.
“Khamenei inaugurated Imam Khomeini Hospital in Alipur, which is still run by the Anjuman-e-Jafaria Committee in the village. Today we are all in grief and mourning following the death of Khamenei,” Mr. Abidi said.
The news of Khamenei’s death, confirmed early on Sunday by Iranian state media, has had a profound emotional impact on Alipur. Residents described a sense of disbelief as reports emerged that he had died following a major attack allegedly carried out by Israel and the United States.
Protest march
Located around 70 km from Bengaluru, Alipur has a population of nearly 25,000, of whom an estimated 90% are Shia Muslims. Members of the Shia community called for a protest march and announced three days of mourning, condemning the circumstances surrounding Khamenei’s death. The protest has been organised under the leadership of the Anjuman-e-Jafaria Committee.
Chickballapur Superintendent of Police Kushal Chouksey visited Alipur on Sunday and held discussions with village elders and members of the organising committee to ensure peaceful observance of the mourning period.
“About 90% of the population in this village are Shia Muslims, and the rest are around 100 Hindu families. We held a meeting with the Anjuman-e-Jafaria Committee members. They held a prayer meeting on Sunday afternoon, followed by a procession in which around 3,000 people participated, protesting the death of Khamenei,” Mr. Chouksey said.
He added that adequate police personnel, along with senior officers, have been deployed in the village to maintain law and order during the mourning period and the proposed procession.
As a mark of protest and mourning, several shops and commercial establishments in Alipur remained voluntarily shut on Sunday. Members of the Shia Muslim community were seen dressed in black and gathering at local mosques and community halls for prayers. Black flags were put up at several locations in the village.
Mr. Abidi said that many youngsters from Alipur travel to Iran to pursue religious education and, in recent years, have also enrolled in MBBS programmes there, as higher education in Iran is comparatively more affordable.
Historic Iran link
Explaining the village’s long-standing cultural and religious connection with Iran, Mr. Abidi said, “Our historical association with Iran dates back to the time of the Adil Shahi dynasty, which ruled the Bijapur Sultanate. As a predominantly Shia Muslim village, we share deep religious ties with Iran, which is a Shia-majority nation”.
Meanwhile, concerns are mounting over the safety of villagers currently stranded in Iran amid the escalating conflict in West Asia. According to the police, around 150 people from Alipur are presently in Iran for various purposes, including Islamic theological studies, medical education, pilgrimage, and business activities. Dozens of youths from the village pursue religious studies in Iranian seminaries or attend universities in cities such as Tehran and Mashhad.
“We have collected details of those stranded in Iran from Alipur village. There are around 150 people from this village currently there. We have prepared a list and shared it with higher officials and the departments concerned to check on them,” Mr. Chouksey said.
However, Mr. Abidi said that most villagers currently in Iran are safe. “As of now, most of our people in Iran are safe and the Indian Embassy is in touch with them, so there are no issues,” he said.
