Ramban, Feb 2: The Srinagar–Jammu National Highway (NH-44) remained open on Monday for two-way movement of light and medium passenger vehicles, while heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) were allowed to ply in one direction towards Kashmir, traffic authorities said.

Officials said that, subject to fair weather and improved road conditions, light motor vehicles will be permitted to travel from both sides—Jammu to Srinagar and Srinagar to Jammu—on Tuesday as well.

They added that heavy motor vehicles will be allowed to move towards Jammu from Qazigund in Kashmir.

Traffic officials monitoring the situation reported slow vehicular movement on stretches of NH-44 due to a single-lane section between Marog and Kishtwari Pather, along with the breakdown of a few heavy vehicles. They said a 20–30 metre stretch at Kishtwari Pather has been reduced to a single lane following road subsidence, due to which HMVs are being allowed to ply on alternate days.

Passengers and light motor vehicle operators have been advised to undertake travel on the Jammu–Srinagar highway strictly during daytime. Night travel has been strongly discouraged owing to the risk of shooting stones, landslides and ongoing construction work between Ramban and Banihal. Authorities also warned that frost formation between Nachlana and the Navyug Tunnel, following recent snowfall, may result in slippery road conditions.

Commuters were urged to maintain lane discipline, with officials cautioning that wrong-lane driving and improper overtaking could lead to traffic congestion. The Traffic Control Unit (TCU) Srinagar will coordinate with TCU Ramban before releasing HMVs towards Jammu on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Kishtwar–Sinthan–Anantnag road (NH-244) remains closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snow accumulation.

The public has been advised to check the latest road status from Traffic Control Units at Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur and Ramban before commencing their journey.

Jammu, Feb 02: The General Officer Commanding of the Army’s White Knight Corps, Lieutenant General P K Mishra, on Monday visited Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district and urged all ranks to remain vigilant and mission-ready at all times, officials said.

Lt Gen Mishra was accompanied by General Officer Commanding, Counter-Insurgency Force (Delta), Major General A P S Bal, they said.

The visit came amid an ongoing operation in the snow-bound higher reaches of the Chatroo forest belt to hunt down a group of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists, who had four encounters with the search parties over the past two weeks at different places.

“The GOC White Knight Corps, accompanied by GOC CIF (Delta), visited the general area of Kishtwar to review the counter-terrorism grid and assess the operational preparedness of the units deployed in the region.

“He was briefed on the prevailing security situation, with focused discussions on strengthening the security framework and enhancing coordination among all stakeholders,” the White Knight Corps said in a post on X.

Commending the troops of the Delta Force for their steadfast resolve, high morale and unwavering commitment to peace and stability, the post said the GOC urged all ranks to remain vigilant, agile and mission-ready at all times.

On January 31, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma visited Kishtwar and reviewed the counter-terrorism grid.

He commended the troops for their unwavering resolve in the ongoing anti-terror operation.

Jammu, Feb 02: “The true meaning of a developed society and a developed nation, extends far beyond infrastructure, modern technology, or economic progress alone. A developed society and nation also signifies a place where people possess strong character, where social values stand firm, and where the social fabric remains bound together in unity,” the Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha said on Monday.

He said that the nation’s true identity emerges from the thinking, conduct, and mutual trust of its citizens and it is the youth who create this wealth of thought and conduct.

“At the heart of a developed nation stands youth power. Young people constitute the most energetic, creative, and transformative force of any country. Youth are the drivers of change,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He was addressing the NCC cadets of NCC Directorate, Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, who returned from New Delhi after attending the Republic Day Camp.

The Lieutenant Governor lauded the contribution of National Cadets Corps (NCC) in nurturing youth, promoting self-less service and building a developed society and the nation.

He stated that the NCC has inspired generations of youth with the understanding that national interest stands above personal gain, and that working together for society’s welfare represents the true leadership.

“Since 1948, the NCC has provided the country’s youth with a platform where young people from diverse backgrounds unite with a shared purpose. Through camps, training, cultural programs, and social campaigns, the NCC has brought values like discipline, leadership, teamwork, and service into the lives of millions of young people. The NCC has inspired generations of youth with the understanding that national interest stands above personal gain, and that working together for society’s welfare represents true leadership,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that only when young people choose duty over convenience and prioritize society’s welfare over their own interests can a developed society and nation truly take shape.

“When honesty, hard work, and the spirit of service become integral to young people’s lives in society, development ceases to remain confined to statistics- it becomes connected to life values,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor asked the NCC cadets to focus on self-development.

“Your self-development connects directly to the country’s progress. When NCC cadets and young people in society advance toward excellence in any field with newfound confidence, they not only secure their own future but also contribute to the nation’s progress,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that the NCC cadets in Jammu Kashmir bear the significant responsibility of strengthening brotherhood.

“I want cadets of the Jammu Kashmir Ladakh NCC Directorate to eliminate walls of region, language, caste, and religion through their collective work.

The development is not limited to “I” but is truly connected to “we.” In giving concrete form to this collective spirit, no other organization in India has contributed more than the NCC.

I want you to create feelings of respect and trust in every district’s social fabric through national and international exposure, shared experiences, and common goals. Always remember that mutual brotherhood develops through cooperation, sensitivity, and collective responsibility. All NCC cadets must together create an atmosphere where unity is practiced daily and diversity is transformed into society’s strength,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor observed that, for contributing to different sectors of developed India, we need leadership founded on ethics and social responsibility. He said, whether in IT, industry, education, armed forces, or culture, work must be done with accountability in all fields.

The Lieutenant Governor commended the Jammu Kashmir Ladakh NCC Directorate for incorporating the drone technology into training, in line with today’s global changes.  “I am fully confident that such initiatives will become not merely the nation’s future but its present strength,” he further said.

The Lieutenant Governor also felicitated the Cadets with the Certificates of Excellence for their significant contributions to the success of the contingent. He complimented the Cadets and NCC officers for their excellent performance on Kartavya Path and at various other competitions.  The Cadets also shared their experience at the Republic Day camp.

A total of 128 cadets of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh NCC Directorate had participated in this year’s Republic Day celebration.

SUO Arpundeep Kour of 3 J&K Battalion NCC, Baramulla, was conferred with the prestigious Raksha Mantri Padak for her outstanding leadership and service during Op SINDOOR, while Lieutenant Ruksana Kousar was honoured with the Chief of Army Staff Commendation for her dedication and devotion to duty.

In addition, the Directorate secured an impressive 11 DG NCC Medallions and Commendation Cards, reflecting excellence across multiple disciplines. Cadet Tawheed Altaf of 7 J&K Battalion NCC, Baramulla, was appointed Parade Commander of the All India NCC Boys Contingent at Kartavya Path. Adding further distinction, Cadet Samriti Kalhuria of 8 J&K Bn NCC had the rare honour of serving as pilot to the Prime Minister of India during the PM Rally, underscoring the trust and confidence placed in NCC cadets of the Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

In recognition of its consistent performance, rapid transformation and outstanding achievements, NCC Directorate Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh was awarded the Director General’s Most Improved Directorate Award and secured an impressive position at the All-India level during Republic Day 2026.

Maj Gen A. Bevli, VSM, Additional Director General of the J&K and Ladakh Directorate, senior Officers and Instructors of J&K and Ladakh NCC Directorate, officials of Lok Bhavan were also present on the occasion.

Jammu, Feb 02: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Monday said that Pakistan’s decisions regarding sporting engagements with India would not affect the country, emphasising that politics should remain separate from sports.

On Sunday, Pakistan announced its decision to boycott its highly anticipated ICC T20 World Cup group match against India, even as the government cleared the national team’s participation for the rest of the tournament, starting February 7.

“If Pakistan doesn’t play, what will happen? If that is their decision, it makes no difference to us. India is a large country, and Pakistan’s actions do not have any impact on us. Therefore, I believe we should not pay much attention to this issue. We prefer not to discuss Pakistan or this topic further,” Choudhary told reporters on the inaugural day of the Budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly here.

He emphasised that India has always opposed the intersection of politics and sports, as it damages the integrity of the game. “Politics should never intrude into sports because, historically, whenever politics has entered, it has harmed the nature of the sport. This principle should be upheld in every country, and even within our own,” he said.

Replying to a question on the demand for setting up a National Law University (NLU) in Jammu, supported by the BJP and its Leader of the Opposition, the deputy chief minister criticised the LoP, alleging that creating a ruckus would not resolve the larger issues of the Union Territory.

He said the LoP had promised restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir during the election campaign and should clarify the status of that assurance. “Jammu would truly benefit only when statehood is restored,” he said.

BJP MLAs led by Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma joined Jammu University students protesting for the establishment of a National Law University here on Sunday. The legislators asserted on Sunday that they would take up the issue both on the streets and in the Legislative Assembly.

Choudhary credited the Omar Abdullah-led government for stimulating economic activity in Jammu, noting the growth of markets, commercial establishments, and increased business activity attributed to the restoration of the Darbar Move.

He described the revival of the Darbar Move as a historical tradition initiated during the maharaja’s rule, which he claimed was discontinued during the BJP’s tenure in 2021. He rejected allegations of discrimination against Jammu and said the revival of the Darbar Move reflected the government’s balanced approach. “All sections of people in Jammu have benefited from the Darbar Move,” he said.

The deputy chief minister said that key concerns before the people of Jammu and Kashmir include restoration of statehood, protection of land rights and safeguarding employment opportunities for locals.

Choudhary also questioned the absence of local vice-chancellors in universities in Jammu and Kashmir and urged political parties to focus on larger public issues rather than raising what he termed as “smaller matters.”

He expressed hope that the upcoming budget would be designed similarly to a state budget, rather than that of a Union Territory.

The deputy chief minister mentioned that Jammu and Kashmir has experienced significant unemployment over the past 11 years, and that significant events, such as the floods in 2025 and the Pahalgam terror attack, severely impacted tourism in the region.

Choudhary hoped for the presentation of a special package for Jammu and Kashmir to address these challenges.