From detention cell to future doctor: Kashmir teen cracks NEET after PSA reprieve
SRINAGAR: Just nine months ago, Zubair ul Islam Bhat sat in police detention, staring at a future behind bars. The 19-year-old from Kupwara in north Kashmir now prepares to begin medical studies, not as a statistic in detention records, but as a symbol of second chances.
He has cracked NEET 2025 — one of the country's toughest entrance exams.
Zubair had been picked up by police last Sept, accused of suspicious phone activity and using a VPN. A dossier under the stringent Public Safety Act was ready. His life teetered on the edge of long-term detention — until People's Conference chief Sajad Lone stepped in.
Lone, recounting the story on social media, said Zubair's family reached out when hope was slipping.
'I was convinced Zubair is special,' he wrote. 'The Kupwara SSP was apprehensive. I volunteered to personally guarantee his conduct. We talked several times, disagreed often — but eventually, he called back and said, 'I'm convinced Zubair needs a chance'.'
Zubair was released. No PSA. No charges. Just a shot at redemption.
On Saturday, results confirmed Zubair had cleared NEET. Lone called it 'a victory of love and compassion', crediting senior officials, the Kupwara SSP, and LG Manoj Sinha for backing the decision.
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Zubair said he was detained for two days after authorities flagged his use of a VPN — commonly used to mask online location. 'They thought I was hiding something. I told them I used VPNs to save data, for gaming and study purposes. They checked my phone and found nothing. After Lone sahib intervened, they let me go,' he said Tuesday.
'I believed Zubair deserves a chance,' Lone posted. 'His life is a story. And I too am part of that story. From the depths of despair to a future in medicine — this is what love and compassion can do.'
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