Pahalgam attack hero among 56 honoured on JK Republic Day
Pahalgam attack hero among 56 honoured on JK Republic Day
56 individuals are recognised by the JK government on Republic Day, including Adil Hussain Shah who died saving tourists in the Pahalgam attack.
The Jammu and Kashmir government announced 56 award recipients on Republic Day, spanning bravery, public service and professional excellence. Among the names is Adil Hussain Shah, a pony operator from Hapatnar village in Pahalgam, who lost his life while trying to save tourists during an attack in the Baisaran Valley in April 2025. He is posthumously awarded a bravery honour with a cash prize of ₹1 lakh and a citation.
Shah confronted terrorists during the April 22 attack, perishing alongside 25 tourists. His courage and selflessness are recognised with the top bravery honour in this list.
Police Sub-Inspector Nikhil Kumar of Gangyal Police Station is also recognised in the same bravery category, receiving ₹51,000 and a citation.
The ceremony includes 12 media personnel, among them PTI Srinagar Bureau Chief Inayat Jehangir and PTI video journalist Jammu Somil Abrol, with other awardees including Avtar Krishan Bhat, Vivek Suri, Sunil Ji Bhat, Dinesh Manhotra, Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Razia Noor, Ishfaq Gowhar Zargar, Syed Khalid Hussain, Sarosh Kafeel, and Neeta Sharma.
Former IAS officer Mohammad Shafi Pandit is honoured with the lifetime achievement award posthumously.
Recipients recognised for Meritorious Public Service include Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu VS Senthil Kumar; Managing Director of J-K Medical Supplies Corporation Tariq Ganai; Additional Secretary to the Government in the General Administration Department Rohit Sharma; Superintending Engineer of the Public Works (R-B) Department Pooja Wazir; and Dr (Prof) Majid Jahangir.
The awards reflect the government’s emphasis on bravery, public service, media, and governance, celebrating a broad spectrum of contributions on Republic Day.
