SRINAGAR: Just nine months ago, 19-year-old Zubair ul Islam Bhat was sitting in a police detention cell, facing the grim possibility of a future behind bars. Today, the young man from Kupwara in north Kashmir is preparing to enter medical college, having cleared NEET 2025, one of India’s most competitive entrance exams.
Zubair’s arrest in September last year came after police flagged suspicious phone activity and VPN usage. Authorities were preparing to book him under the Public Safety Act (PSA) — a law that allows for detention without trial. His fate seemed sealed until People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone intervened.
Sharing Zubair’s story on social media, Lone wrote: “His family reached out when all hope seemed lost. I was convinced Zubair was special.” Though the Kupwara SSP was initially hesitant, Lone personally vouched for the teenager’s conduct. “We had several discussions — we disagreed, we debated — but in the end, he called and said, ‘I’m convinced Zubair deserves a chance.’”
Zubair was released — no PSA, no charges. Just a chance to reclaim his life.
When NEET results were announced on Saturday, Zubair had made it. Lone hailed it as a “victory of love and compassion,” expressing gratitude to the Kupwara police, senior officials, and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for supporting the decision.
Zubair recounted the incident on Tuesday: “I was detained for two days because I used a VPN. They suspected I was hiding something. I explained it was for gaming and saving data while studying. They checked my phone and found nothing. Lone sahib stepped in, and they let me go.”
“This is what belief and empathy can achieve,” Lone said. “Zubair’s journey — from the edge of incarceration to a future in medicine — is a story of hope. And I’m proud to be part of it.”
Now, Zubair stands not as a statistic in a detention log, but as a symbol of second chances — and the power of timely compassion.
