Kashmir formally split into two Union Territories

NEW DELHI — The northern Indian state Jammu and Kashmir has been split into two union territories (UTs), Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Girish Chandra Murmu on Wednesday arrived in Srinagar for being sworn as the first Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.

The state has been split into two union territories (UTs), Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Radha Krishna Mathur will also be sworn as the first Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh on Thursday morning in a simple ceremony at Leh.

The chief justice of the high court Geeta Mittal would administer the oath of office to both Lt. Governors.

The Modi government had, on 5 August, scrapped the Article 370 that provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir and also split the state into two UTs. People of Ladakh had for the past about 35 years been demanding UT status for the mountainous region. Leh has shunned the Lotus emblem of J&K and has painted the National Emblem of Ashoka Chakra on the office boards.

At Srinagar International Airport Murmu was received by Advisor Farooq Khan and Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam.

Principal Secretary Home, Shaleen Kabra; Principal Secretary Hospitality and Protocol, Rohit Kansal; DG Police, Dilbagh Singh; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan; IGP Kashmir, SP Pani; Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Tariq Ahmed Ganai; Director Hospitality and Protocol, Tariq Ahmed Zargar and other officers of the State Government were present to receive him.