A large number of members from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and several Muslim organisations gathered on Sunday to stage a protest in Chennai. The protest was planned in front of the U.S. Consulate General Chennai located on Anna Salai, one of the city’s busiest roads.
The protesters assembled at different points in the city and began moving towards the consulate in groups. However, the police had already made tight security arrangements in the area. Barricades were placed on key roads leading to the consulate, and additional police personnel were deployed to prevent the crowd from reaching the spot.
Authorities stopped the protesters on their way and did not allow them to proceed further. Police officials said the restrictions were imposed to maintain public safety and avoid any possible law and order issues. Some members of the groups raised slogans condemning the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The groups claimed that Khamenei was killed in an air strike carried out by Israeli-U.S. forces on Sunday. They expressed strong opposition to the alleged attack and demanded international action. Protest leaders said they wanted to register their condemnation in a peaceful manner.
Due to the protest call, heavy police presence was seen along Anna Salai and nearby areas. Traffic movement was closely monitored, and vehicles were diverted in certain stretches to prevent congestion. Commuters experienced minor delays during peak hours.
Police officials stated that preventive measures were taken in advance after receiving information about the planned protest. They said their priority was to ensure that the situation remained peaceful and that there were no untoward incidents.
By evening, the situation remained under control, and the crowd gradually dispersed without any major disturbance.