Jammu, Jan 12: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday asserted that Jammu and Kashmir are inseparable, firmly rejecting a recent demand by a BJP leader to grant separate statehood to the Jammu region by bifurcating the Union Territory.

The former chief minister’s remarks came even as the BJP’s JK president Sat Sharma sought to distance the party’s stand from the controversial proposal of Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Sham Lal Sharma recently.

“Neither Jammu nor Kashmir can be separated from each other. It would be like separating the head from the body — with Jammu as the head and Kashmir as the torso,” Abdullah said during his visit to Narwal Fruit Mandi here.

He claimed even the people of Ladakh want to return to the fold of Jammu and Kashmir.

The special status under Article 370 was revoked to Jammu and Kashmir by the BJP-led central government in 2019 and the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two Union Territories — JK and Ladakh.

Recently, BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma stoked a controversy by demanding separation of Jammu over alleged claims of discrimination with the region. However, the party’s state president later distanced from his statement and said this is not the stand of BJP.

Accompanied by senior party leaders, including Jammu provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta and chairman Scheduled Caste Cell Vijay Lochan, Abdullah interacted with office bearers of the Narwal Fruit Mandi Association and listened to their issues, assuring them that their concerns would be addressed.

He said the NC-led government in the UT is working for the betterment of the people and has taken several initiatives over the past year.

“There is no need to worry… all the promises made to the people will be fulfilled,” he said.

Srinagar, Jan 12: Marine commandos Monday launched a search operation in the Jhelum River at Gandbal in Srinagar following yesterday’s recovery of suspected human remains along the riverbank.

The deployment came after locals demanded that specialised marine forces be pressed into service to trace and retrieve the body believed to be linked to the April 2024 boat tragedy in the area. Locals had urged authorities to conduct a thorough underwater search to bring closure to the incident that claimed multiple lives.

Officials said the MARCOS team arrived at the spot earlier in the day and immediately began a coordinated search operation in the river stretch near Gandbal in the Soiteng area. The operation was underway at the time of filing this report.

The renewed search follows the discovery of suspected human remains along the bank of the Jhelum River, which triggered fresh hope among locals that the body of Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, missing since the tragic boat capsize, may finally be recovered.

Locals said that they had been seeking the involvement of marine commandos since the recovery, citing the depth and flow of the river as challenges for conventional search teams. They said the presence of specialised divers was crucial for a detailed operation.

Officials said the search will continue as per standard operating procedures and all findings will be subjected to forensic verification.

The April 2024 incident at Gandbal had left 8 persons, including school children, dead, while one person was untraceable despite extensive rescue efforts by multiple agencies, and the ongoing operation has revived hopes of long-awaited closure for the affected family and the local community. [KNT]

Srinagar, Jan 12: Vehicular traffic was plying smoothly on both sides of the Jammu Srinagar National Highway on Monday following an improvement in weather conditions, officials said.

There was no report of slow movement or congestion on the strategic highway, with traffic moving steadily from both the Jammu and Kashmir ends. Authorities said the improvement in weather has contributed to better road conditions, allowing uninterrupted movement of passenger vehicles as well as essential supply trucks.

Officials monitoring the highway said traffic flow remained normal throughout the day, and no major bottlenecks were reported at any stretch. Road maintenance teams continued routine monitoring to ensure safe passage amid prevailing winter conditions.

Meanwhile, the Mughal Road, which connects south Kashmir with the Pir Panjal region, also remained open for traffic. However, movement on the route was reported to be slow due to frost at several stretches, particularly during the morning hours.

Authorities have advised motorists using the Mughal Road to exercise caution, especially during early hours, as frost continues to affect road grip in higher reaches.

Traffic authorities said they remain alert and are closely monitoring both routes to ensure smooth and safe movement in view of fluctuating winter weather conditions. [KNT]

Sopore, Jan 12: In the changing landscape of sports in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, young female athletes are no longer on the sidelines but are at the forefront, scripting success stories and achieving parity with their counterparts nationwide.

In past years the sports activities in union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, from cricket to various indoor and outdoor disciplines ascend to new heights. Young women athletes, in particular, are now representing India on national platforms alongside fellow sportspersons.

In a latest development, a group of cyclists from North Kashmir’s Baramulla district excelled at a national event, proving that the era of female athletes lagging behind is conclusively over.

A sports official said that cyclists Ulfat Mushtaq, Mehak Mushtaq, Sofia Hilal, Sobiya Manzoor, and Hoor-i-ein Lone delivered outstanding performances at the Khelo India Asmita Women’s League held in Kurukshetra, Haryana.

He said Ulfat Mushtaq secured 10th position in the 30 km Time Trial and 11th in the 60 km Mass Start.

The official stated that Mehak Mushtaq achieved 12th place in the 30 km Time Trial and demonstrated exceptional resilience by finishing 13th in the 60 km Mass Start despite a crash. Sofia Hilal and Sobiya Manzoor delivered standout results with 7th and 8th positions respectively, while Hoor-i-ein Lone added to the team’s pride with a 16th-place finish.

He added that this event marked the historic first-ever participation of a Jammu & Kashmir women’s cycling team in the Khelo India Asmita League, with all riders proudly representing District Baramulla.

The official further stated that it is a very positive sign to see how sports activities in the Union Territory are shaping lives, where athletes are setting an example and inspiring others.

He said the sports department is creating all necessary facilities to support the sports athletes and to provide them with more platforms where they can excel further and represent Kashmir at national and international levels.

In a related development aimed at fostering this athletic momentum, the Jammu and Kashmir administration is undertaking a major initiative to bolster sports infrastructure across the Union Territory. This follows a high-level meeting between J&K’s Sports Minister, Satish Sharma, and key national sports officials.

Minister Sharma informed that he held detailed discussions with Rohan Jaitley, Chairman of the BCCI Infrastructure Committee and President of the Delhi & District Cricket Association. The talks centered on concrete plans for constructing new cricket stadiums in Jammu and Kashmir.

Emphasizing the “immense sporting talent” within the Union Territory, Minister Sharma stressed the “need for world-class cricketing infrastructure to nurture young players and promote a robust sports culture.” The proposed stadiums are expected to provide modern training facilities and position J&K as a potential host for national and international cricket events.

Minister Sharma also highlighted Jammu and Kashmir’s broad potential in sectors like start-ups, handicrafts, agri-based industries, tourism, and IT-enabled services. He affirmed the government’s commitment to creating a supportive ecosystem for youth-led enterprises.

“The ideas emerging from forums like the Viksit Bharat Dialogue are crucial to realizing the vision of an Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat, ensuring inclusive growth across all regions,” Sharma stated, commending the organizers for providing a national platform for youth engagement. (KNS)

Bandipora, Jan 12: A Border Security Force (BSF) constable died after a fire broke out in a barrack of the 62nd Battalion camp in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district late last night, officials said.

An official said that the incident occurred in the Madar area of Bandipora, where a fire engulfed the barrack, completely gutting the structure. The constable, who was inside at the time, could not be rescued and was charred to death.

The body was later shifted to the District Hospital Bandipora for medico-legal formalities, after which it will be sent to his native place.

The deceased has been identified as Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Jalandhar, Punjab. Authorities have taken cognizance of the incident. —(KNO)