image sourced from original article at The reported assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has cast a pall over Kintoor village in Barabanki district, which shares a historical link with his predecessor Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini. Residents expressed shock, sorrow and anger as news spread, with many gathering in mourning and protest. A three-day mourning period was declared, religious gatherings were organised and shops in nearby areas were closed.
More than 200 villagers, including both Shia and Sunni Muslims, marched peacefully while raising slogans against the United States and Israel. Dressed largely in black and carrying portraits of Khomeini and Khamenei, protesters said that Khamenei chose bravery over surrender and that his death should be honoured.
Kintoor traces its connection to Iran through Sayed Ahmad Musavi 'Hindi', Khomeini's great grandfather, who was born in the village in the early nineteenth century before migrating to Iran in 1834. He later settled in Khomein after studying in Najaf and retained the title 'Hindi' to reflect his Indian roots. Villagers say Iranian researchers had visited decades ago to study Khomeini's lineage, reinforcing the enduring bond between the village and Iran's revolutionary leadership.
