Latest news with #People'sConference
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Total AV 2025 – Save Up to 80% Off Antivirus Today Total AV - Tier 2 Install Now Undo 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.'
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
From PSA to cracking NEET, Kupwara boy makes most of second chance
They say success tastes sweeter when it comes from the grit and grind of a second chance. Zubair ul Islam Bhat, a youngster from the remote village of Khumrail in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, knows for sure as he emerges triumphant from the depths of hopelessness. Zubair was given a second chance by the Jammu and Kashmir Police that did not book him under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) and he used the opportunity to excel in academics and crack the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the result of which was announced on June 14. The inspiring story of Zubair was shared by People's Conference chairman and Handwara legislator Sajjad Lone, who played an important role in securing the second chance for the youth so that he could pursue his education. Congratulating Zubair and posting his photos on X, a proud Lone wrote: 'He is much more than a young boy who has cracked NEET. I share a special bond with him. From the depths of despair a year ago, Zubair has bounced back and will soon embark on a career in medicine. A year back, he was set to be booked under the PSA. The dossier was ready. His family approached me. He is a couple of years older than my children. I don't know what happened. But I was convinced that Zubair had to be saved. I was convinced that he is special and can deliver academically and move on to have an excellent career. I believed he deserves a chance.' Lone approached the Kupwara senior superintendent of police, who was apprehensive about the move initially. 'I volunteered to take personal guarantee for Zubair's conduct. We talked so many times over the phone and the conversation would end in disagreement. But I remember the day I got a call from the Kupwara SSP when he said he had given it a thought and was convinced Zubair deserved a chance,' he said. Expressing gratitude to the Kupwara SSP, Lone said: 'His decision to release Zubair means he has added a doctor to the society. I would have never talked about this. But Zubair's story is a story of triumph of love and compassion. Maybe there is a message in this story. I hope our decision makers understand that message. My thanks to @OfficeOfLG J&K. Without the consent of top officials, this would never have been possible. Victory in Kashmir lies in love and compassion,' Lone said. Zubair ul Islam isn't the first. In the past too, Lone has helped many students, particularly those from north Kashmir, to excel in academics. They include children of those who were killed during the years of militancy in the early '90s. Zubair said he was detained by police last year in Kupwara after a complaint against him. 'My family approached Sajjad Lone, who took personal interest in getting me released,' he said, adding it was his second shot at NEET and he secured 535 out of 720 marks. 'I had started pursuing Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery in Ganderbal last year and worked hard to crack the NEET with a higher merit this time,' he added.
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Take people along… don't hand out collective punishment': J-K MLAs appeal on house demolitions
Unanimously passing a resolution on Monday condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, members of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly pointed to the public outrage over the incident across the Valley and cautioned against any 'misplaced action that alienates the people'. They referred to the reports of harassment of Kashmiri students and businessmen in other parts of the country, as well as the demolition of houses belonging to the families and even distant relatives of terrorists in the Valley, with one MLA describing it as 'collective punishment'. Referring to the fact that people came out of their houses in protest against the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead, 25 of them tourists, People's Conference leader Sajad Lone said the biggest challenge law enforcers have had in the past is that they could not distinguish between an innocent man and a terrorist, with several innocents dying in the process or suffering. The violence will not end unless there are thousands of pony wallahs such as Syed Adil Hussain Shah who had come to the rescue of tourists, Lone said. 'However, to nurture people and make them like Syed Adil Shah, you have to create the environment… To have such an environment, we cannot take measures which are regressive.' Stressing that the cooperation of local people was needed for enduring peace, he said: 'We have to make corrections. If we do not make corrections, we will bleed.' The People's Conference leader referred to alleged incidents of harassment of Kashmiri students in some parts of the country, and said this should be checked. 'We have to tell the people that when you do something, it gets magnified and feeds the mindset that terrorists want. Let us not do what terrorists want us to do.' Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, an Independent MLA from Thanmandi in Rajouri, Jammu, who supports the ruling National Conference, said that while no words were enough to condemn the 'cowardly' terrorist act, 'there should not be collective punishment of innocent people just because someone in their distant family has become a militant'. He said houses of even those who no longer have any contact with their relatives who had joined terrorism had been demolished. 'Such actions will not end the terror ecosystem,' Khan said. Veteran CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami accused the terrorists who struck in Pahalgam of 'trying to foist their divisive agenda' on people. 'A message should go from this House that we are all citizens of this country and it is our collective responsibility to ensure security of all'', including tourists coming to J&K and the students from Kashmir studying elsewhere in the country, he said. 'Only then can we defeat the terrorists' agenda of dividing people on communal lines.' Calling for establishing 'the rule of law', Tarigami said this ran contrary to the demolition of houses to target terrorists. Many of these structures had been standing for years, he said, 'but all of a sudden, you say today that these are terrorist hideouts'. 'The fight against terror cannot be successful unless the rule of law is established in J&K,' he said.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ensure innocent Kashmiris don't bear brunt of war on terror: Omar, Mehbooba, Lone
SRINAGAR: The required war on terrorism should not make innocent Kashmiris collateral damage, Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah , PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti , and People's Conference chief Sajad Lone have warned amid a massive crackdown on terrorists, including demolition of their family homes, in the Pahalgam attack aftermath. 'Punish the guilty, show them no mercy, but don't let innocent people become collateral damage… There must be a decisive fight against terrorism and its origins. The people of Kashmir have come out openly against terrorism. It's time to build on this support and avoid any misplaced action that alienates people,' Omar said. Earlier, National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi alleged on X, 'Kashmir and Kashmiris are being given collective punishment.' Mehbooba said the Union govt should tread carefully and avoid alienating innocent people while acting against terrorists. 'There are reports of thousands being arrested and scores of houses of common Kashmiris being demolished along with those of militants.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo She urged the Centre to direct the authorities to ensure that innocent people are not made to bear the brunt, as alienation aids terrorists' goals of division and fear. Lone said that using 'collectiveness to define criminality or terrorism is a curse and will never allow reconciliation and social introspection.' 'The mass protests against the Pahalgam killings were a rare occurrence, a first of its kind in the last 78 years. It showed a shift in mindset — from a society in which some significant sections may have accorded social sanctity to the concept of violence, to a society which marched in thousands across villages and towns condemning violence, thereby signifying the social stigmatisation of violence,' he said. 'This is a monumental shift, a milestone. But at the same time, a fragile shift. I hope those in charge of law and order do understand the significance of the shift and don't do anything erroneously that impedes the shift or facilitates a return to the earlier mindset.' He said there is a general feeling across the Valley that entire families are being punished for the actions of one person.
NDTV
23-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
J&K MLA Sajad Lone Says "All Of Kashmir Shedding Tears Of Blood"
Srinagar: People's Conference chief Sajad Lone on Wednesday led the party's candlelight vigil against the Pahalgam terror attack and said that all of Kashmir was "shedding tears of blood". The terror strike at a prime tourist location in Pahalgam on Tuesday, the deadliest in the Kashmir Valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack, left at least 26 people, mostly tourists, dead and several injured. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti led a march of party leaders and workers from Sher-e-Kashmir Park to the historic Lal Chowk city centre. Mr Lone, who is also an MLA from Handwara, led a candlelight march at Polo View. Speaking to reporters, he said the killings were "profoundly regrettable" and described the attack as the "gravest in the past 30 years". "All of Kashmir today is shedding tears of blood. These tourists were part of our hearts," he said. Referring to shutdown and protests across the valley, Mr Lone said the mass turnout in the streets must send a clear message to these nefarious elements that "this is our land, and these visitors are our guests. Lay down your bullets, we will not tolerate even a glare at our guests". He said that for decades, the people of Kashmir have been known for their warmth and generosity. "But now, the blood of our guests stains our conscience. It was outsiders who struck, not we the natives," Lone added. The PDP MLA said the outpouring of grief and solidarity should serve as a stern warning to those wielding guns that such atrocities "will no longer be tolerated." External villains behind this atrocity aimed to cripple Kashmir's economy and leave its people in despair, but they will not succeed, Lone added.
