Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Monday announced the postponement of the SSLC and Higher Secondary examinations scheduled for this week in the Gulf region, in view of the escalating tensions in West Asia.

Addressing a press conference here, the minister said the security situation in the gulf, has made conducting the public exams impossible.

Against this backdrop, the government has decided to postpone the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination scheduled for March 5 in the Gulf region, he said.

The Higher Secondary examinations slated for March 5, 6 and 7 in the region have also been deferred, Sivankutty added.

"The revised dates for the postponed examinations will be announced later," the Minister said.

He noted that some students, both in the Gulf countries and in Kerala, are anxious that they may not be able to reach their examination centres and could miss their exams due to the prevailing situation.

The General Education Department stands with the students in this matter, Sivankutty said.

Students who are unable to appear for the examinations are advised to submit applications at the earliest to the Director of General Education through their respective headmasters or principals, he said.

The department will examine the merit of each application and take a favourable decision in the interest of the students, the Minister added.

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Srinagar (PTI): Several parts of Kashmir witnessed protests against the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for the second day on Monday, with security forces using mild force to disperse protesters in a few places.

According to the officials, the protests broke out in Bemina, Gund Hassibhat, and Jehangir Chowk areas of the city here, and in Pulwama town in south Kashmir.

Scores of protesters gathered in these areas, which have a large Shia population. They marched through the streets, raising anti-US and anti-Israel slogans.

In some areas, the security forces resorted to using mild force to disperse the protesters.

Khamenei was killed in joint air strikes by the US and Israel on Iran early Saturday. Iranian state media confirmed his death on Sunday.

Iran is firing missiles at Israel and the Arab countries in retaliation.