ANANTNAG
Dr Syed Aalishan Fatima from Srinagar has become the first woman from Jammu and Kashmir to qualify for the DM Cardiovascular, Endovascular and Interventional Radiology course at AIIMS Delhi, securing All India Rank 3 in her first attempt at the INI-SS 2025 exam. A mother of a 15-month-old, she balanced her personal life with a demanding academic career, completing her MBBS and MD from GMC Srinagar, and DNB from the National Board of Examinations.
LONDON
Professor Noor Ul Owase Jeelani, a Kashmiri-born paediatric neurosurgeon based at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital, has been awarded the MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List for his services to neurosurgery and global child health. Known internationally for leading complex craniopagus twin separation surgeries, Jeelani also founded the charity Gemini Untwined to deliver life-saving procedures in regions with limited neurosurgical access. His team-based approach and pioneering work have transformed paediatric neurosurgery, both in the UK and abroad. Jeelani performs around 200 surgeries annually and is engaged in AI-based surgical modelling and augmented reality research.
AMERICA
Dr Aijaz Ahmad John Bhat has become the first Kashmiri to receive the 2025 ASBMR Harold M Frost Young Investigator Award, one of the most prestigious honours in bone and mineral research. The award, given by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, includes participation in the ORS International Musculoskeletal Biology Workshop in Utah, USA. Dr Bhat, a Senior Postdoctoral Scientist at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, is recognised for his research on microRNAs and their role in regulating skeletal cell function. His long-term goal is to develop gene therapies for bone diseases like osteoporosis. A PhD holder from CSIR-CDRI, India, Dr Bhat has qualified several national competitive exams and published over twenty papers. He has also received other international awards for his work. His selection is part of a ten-member global list for 2025, and his achievement has been widely hailed as a milestone for Kashmiri science and academia.
CHATISGARH
The SMGS Hospital in Jammu has launched an inquiry after two families, one from Doda and the other from Chhattisgarh, alleged that their daughters, born in September 2022, were accidentally exchanged at birth. DNA tests confirmed the swap, prompting a police complaint. Preliminary hospital records show two female babies were born minutes apart on September 8, 2022, with separate footprint entries. The hospital stated that no staff negligence has been found so far, but police are also investigating. Authorities have assured full cooperation and warned that strict action will follow if any staff involvement is established. Labour rooms in gynaecological hospitals do report such mishaps at the peak of deliveries, but these are managed quickly, unlike this interesting case.
PAHALGAM
Ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, Jammu and Kashmir Police detained an over-ground worker (OGW) using a newly installed Facial Recognition System (FRS) at the Langanbal checkpoint in Anantnag, the first such technology-led arrest in the Valley. The individual, a carpenter from Seer Hamdan with a past FIR from 2005, was identified and handed over to the Pahalgam police for legal action. Police described the move as a milestone in technology-driven policing, emphasising its deterrent effect. Electronic surveillance has been intensified along yatra routes to ensure safety, with authorities reaffirming their commitment to swiftly identifying and acting against potential threats.
KUPWARA
In a powerful story of second chances, Zubair ul Islam Bhat from Khumriyal in Kupwara, has cracked the NEET exam just a year after facing imminent detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Accused of adverse activities in 2023, Zubair narrowly avoided incarceration after his family appealed to People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone, who intervened with the Kupwara SSP. The police officer eventually relented, allowing Zubair to rebuild his life. A former Physics student at Aligarh Muslim University, Zubair returned home due to illness and prepared for NEET in just one month, scoring 535 marks. His resilience has now earned him a 99.05 percentile, opening doors to an MBBS seat. Lone, who publicly shared Zubair’s journey, called it a “triumph of love and compassion,” thanking the LG’s office for enabling a transformative decision. Zubair, currently pursuing BUMS in Ganderbal, now mentors his younger brother and remains a symbol of hope and redemption. His success story highlights the need for empathy and second chances in conflict-affected regions like Kashmir, proving that with support and belief, lives can be turned around.
DELHI
People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti has appealed to the government of India to allow the family of jailed separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah to be present during his treatment for prostate cancer. Shah, 74, currently lodged in Tihar Jail, has been advised urgent surgery but insists on having a family member by his side. His relatives claim they have had no phone contact with him and were unaware of his condition until informed by another inmate’s family. Mufti urged Home Secretary Govind Mohan to intervene on humanitarian grounds and ensure compassionate care is extended during this critical phase of illness.
LEH
India’s first commercial deployment of hydrogen fuel cell buses was launched in Leh, Ladakh, where five such buses were handed over by NTPC to SIDCO, a Leh government corporation. The buses will operate on high-altitude routes, with hydrogen fuel dispensed at India’s first high-pressure system (350 bar) from a green hydrogen station located at 11,562 feet. This station is powered by a 1.7 MW solar plant. The initiative is part of NTPC’s green mobility push and aligns with making Ladakh carbon-neutral. The hydrogen buses are designed to function in sub-zero temperatures and are expected to reduce annual carbon emissions by 350 metric tonnes. Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal directed NTPC to document the project for replication. While Tata Motors is also conducting hydrogen truck trials under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, this Leh project marks a global milestone by demonstrating hydrogen transport in extreme conditions for sustained public mobility.
JAMMU KASHMIR
The Jammu and Kashmir government, under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has sent the report of the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) on reservation to the Law Department for legal scrutiny, delaying any immediate decision on the contentious reservation policy. The current policy, introduced by the LG-led administration in April 2024, raised reservations to nearly 70 per cent, cutting open merit seats to around 30 per cent in education and government jobs. This led to widespread protests from general category students, prompting the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government to form a CSC to address the grievances. The CSC, headed by ministers including Sakina Itoo, submitted its report on June 10 after a six-month deliberation. The cabinet discussed the report on Wednesday but withheld details, citing legal implications. Sources said an increase in open merit quota would require cutting existing reserved percentages, potentially conflicting with constitutional provisions. Opposition leaders have criticised the delay. A PDP lawmaker called it a “deliberate denial of justice,” and accused the government of continuing a policy it once promised to reverse. Sajad Lone described the government as “clueless” and said the process appears politically driven rather than legally grounded. No timeline has been announced for the Law Department’s response, deepening uncertainty for protesting students.
KEDARNATH
A landslide on the Kedarnath trek route in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district claimed the lives of two palanquin carriers from Doda, Jammu and Kashmir, and left three others injured, including a pilgrim from Gujarat. The incident occurred around 11:20 am on June 18, 2025, near Jungle Chatti, where debris and boulders rolled down the hillside, striking pilgrims and palanquin bearers. The deceased, identified as Chander Shekhar and Nitin Kumar, were carrying a woman pilgrim when they fell into a gorge. She survived with minor injuries. The injured, two from Doda and one from Gujarat, were rescued by the police and SDRF and shifted for treatment. The operation was hampered by the rugged terrain.
PAHALGAM
Two months after the Pahalgam massacre left 26 people dead, tourism is slowly resuming in the region. Local visitors and a few from Punjab have returned, particularly during the Eid holidays. The April 22 attack at Baisaran halted tourism and impacted related livelihoods. Some parks and destinations, including Betaab Valley, were closed but are now being reopened by the administration. Ponywallas and hoteliers hope that the upcoming Amarnath Yatra will revive activity further. However, helicopter services have been prohibited for the pilgrimage this year, prompting concerns from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Authorities have declared a no-fly zone across all pilgrimage routes, citing security risks. Surveillance has been increased with facial recognition, RFID tags, and multi-layered security. Foreign tourists from Europe have resumed visits, expressing satisfaction with safety measures. Officials and stakeholders are urging gradual reopening of more tourist spots. The phased reopening of parks across both Jammu and Kashmir divisions has received a positive response, with large turnouts reported. Tourism authorities and local leaders have emphasised the need to support the sector for livelihoods and economic recovery. Security continues to be a major consideration as Jammu and Kashmir prepares for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage beginning July 3.
AMARNATH
Tourists have started returning to Pahalgam after the April 22 terror attack, but pony walas remain without work. Waheed Ahmed, president of the J&K Pony Wala Association, said around 4,000 pony walas in Pahalgam have had no income for two months. Though other tourism stakeholders are benefiting from the partial revival, pony walas cannot operate because the key tourist spots they serve—Baisaran, Dona Valley, Kashmir Valley, and Dayban—remain closed. Many pony walas, dependent on this work for survival, have been forced to sell livestock or take loans. The association urged the government to reopen these destinations to restore their livelihoods.
MIDDLE EAST
The first commercial consignment of cherries from Jammu and Kashmir has reached markets in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, marking the beginning of international exports for the region’s cherry growers. The cherries were launched at Lulu Supermarket in Riyadh in the presence of APEDA officials and representatives from the Jammu and Kashmir administration. The initiative is part of India’s broader effort to expand exports of niche agricultural products. Cherries were sourced from districts including Baramulla, Shopian, Ganderbal, and Srinagar, which collectively contribute about 90 per cent of India’s cherry output. The fruit was harvested, graded, and transported in temperature-controlled conditions. Historically, Kashmir’s cherry industry has faced challenges due to the fruit’s short shelf life and inadequate infrastructure. Exporters and growers hope this new channel will encourage investment in cold storage and logistics. Farmers in Kashmir have welcomed the export move as a potential game-changer.
HAPATNAD
The Jammu and Kashmir government has provided a government job to Gulnaz Akhter, the widow of pony ride operator Adil Shah, who was killed while protecting tourists during the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. LG Manoj Sinha handed over the appointment letter at her residence in Hapatnar, and said the job in the Fisheries Department was a token of gratitude for Shah’s bravery. Adil Shah was among 26 people killed in the Baisaran massacre. The government had also provided financial assistance to Shah’s family. National Conference leader Tanvir Sadiq confirmed the job order had been prepared by the elected government and expressed appreciation that the LG had distributed it. He said compassion should override politics in such moments. The case highlights ongoing cooperation and tensions between the LG’s office and the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir.
