Lucknow, March 2 -- As news of the death of Iran's Supreme Leader broke early Sunday morning, people began gathering in huge numbers in Old Lucknow with pictures of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and black flags in protest against Israel and the United States. Lucknow is known for its sizable Shia population. The Uttar Pradesh Police sounded a statewide alert following protests. Director general of police (DGP) Rajeev Krishna said that special vigilance has been ordered in districts with a significant Shia presence, including Lucknow, Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Ghazipur, Muzaffarnagar and Meerut. In Lucknow, protests were witnessed at Rumi Gate where slogans were shouted against Israel and the US. Families of those staying in the Gulf remained worried as the airspace in the region was closed. Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad announced three days of mourning and appealed to people to place black flags atop their houses and keep their shops shut. A condolence meeting has also been called for 8pm Sunday at Chota Imambada where a candle march will also take place after prayers. Shia leaders have stated that effigies of the US and Israeli leadership will be burnt. Meanwhile, Shia personal law board secretary, Maulana Yasoob Abbas condemned the attack by Israel and the US, stating, "A major protest will be held this evening at Chota Imambaba against Israel and the US. We all stand firmly with Iran. The Shia Personal Law Board has announced a three-day mourning. I request people to wear black clothes and recite Fatiha for Khamenei Sahab." Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, chairperson of the Islamic Centre of India, said, "We strongly condemn the attack on Iran by Israel and the US. This attack defies all international laws. Everyone knows Iran is an independent and sovereign country, yet such an attack was carried out, and a school was targeted. We condemn the death of Ali Khamenei Sahab and appeal to stakeholders to raise their voice and stop this attack immediately. We also urge all Muslims to maintain peace and brotherhood at this moment." Due to escalating tensions in West Asia, several flights from Lucknow were cancelled, including IndiGo flights 6E 1415 to Abu Dhabi, 6E 097 to Dammam and 6E 1423 to Sharjah. Danish Zaidi, resident of Tahseen Ganj area in Lucknow, said he was worried about his brother who works in the media in Tehran. "I spoke to my brother Danish last at 10.30am (Indian Standard Time) on Saturday. He told me that a missile had landed just half a kilometre from where he lives," said Zaidi The conversation was cut short when the connection failed. Since then, the entire family in Lucknow has been worried and praying for his safety. Syed Faizan, whose sister and her family reside in downtown Dubai, said: "Nobody thought that a place like Dubai could be attacked like this. People are in panic as even the flights are stopped at the moment."...