South Kashmir batter Furqan Bhat and tournament organizers summoned by Jammu Police; incident during the ‘J&K Champions League’ sparks political row and social media outrage.
January 2, 2026: A local cricket match in Jammu took a serious political turn on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, after a player was spotted wearing a helmet bearing the Palestinian flag. On Thursday, January 1, 2026, the Jammu and Kashmir Police officially summoned the cricketer and the tournament organizer for questioning at the Domana Police Station.
The incident occurred during a match between JK11 Kings and Jammu Trailblazers in the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Champions League (JKCL), a privately organized tournament held on the outskirts of Jammu city.
The Incident: Visuals Go Viral
- The Player: Identified as Furqan Bhat, a specialist batter from South Kashmir. Bhat walked out to bat in the fourth over of the innings sporting the Palestinian flag on the front of his helmet.
- The Reaction: Screenshots and videos of Bhat in the middle quickly circulated on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, with many netizens in Jammu demanding immediate police action.
- Police Action: J&K Police issued a statement confirming that both Bhat and the league organizer, Zahid Bhat, were called in for questioning to “ascertain the circumstances and intent” behind the display.
“Unrecognized League”: JKCA Distances Itself
The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) was swift to clarify its lack of involvement in the controversy.
- Official Stance: Brigadier (Retd) Anil Gupta, Administrative Member of the JKCA, stated that the tournament is a “privately organized event” not affiliated with or recognized by the JKCA or the BCCI.
- Jurisdiction: Gupta emphasized that because the league is unofficial, the JKCA has no disciplinary control over the players involved, leaving the matter entirely in the hands of the local police.
- Previous Scams: Officials noted that this is the second “unofficial” league to draw negative attention recently, following a fraudulent league in November 2025 where organizers reportedly vanished after scamming participants.
Political Reaction & Legal Status
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from local political leaders.
- BJP Outcry: Senior BJP leader and MLA R.S. Pathania termed the move a “nasty attempt to use a cricket ground for a subversive agenda.” He urged authorities to investigate if the act was a deliberate attempt to undermine India’s foreign policy stance.
- Current Status: As of Friday morning, January 2, 2026, no First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged. Police officials stated they are currently “verifying the facts” and checking whether the organizers had obtained the necessary permissions for the event.
Context: Growing Sensitivity
The probe follows a pattern of heightened security regarding the display of Palestinian symbols in India.
- In July 2025, four youths were arrested in Uttar Pradesh for wearing Palestinian flag T-shirts during a procession.
- Authorities in J&K are particularly cautious given the region’s sensitivity, investigating whether such displays are intended to incite local sentiments.
