Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar
Srinagar, Jan 26: The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced state awards for 56 individuals from diverse fields, including Adil Hussain Shah, who laid down his life while trying to save tourists during the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, officials said on Sunday.
According to an order issued by Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, M Raju, the awardees have been recognised for their outstanding contributions and services to society.
Shah, a resident of Hapatnar village in Pahalgam, bravely confronted Pakistani terrorists during an attack on tourists in the Baisaran Valley on April 22, 2025. He was killed along with 25 tourists in the attack. He has been posthumously honoured for his courage and sacrifice, with the award comprising a citation and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.
Police Sub-Inspector Nikhil Kumar of Gangyal Police Station has also been recognised for bravery and will receive a citation along with a cash award of Rs 51,000.
Twelve media professionals have been honoured, including PTI Srinagar Bureau Chief Inayat Jehangir and PTI video journalist Somil Abrol from Jammu. Other journalists awarded are 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 has been posthumously conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Those honoured for Meritorious Public Service include Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu, V S Senthil Kumar; Managing Director of J&K Medical Supplies Corporation, Tariq Ganai; Additional Secretary, General Administration Department, Rohit Sharma; Superintending Engineer, Public Works (R-B) Department, Pooja Wazir; and Prof Majid Jahangir, Principal, Government Medical College, Baramulla.
In the field of literature, awards have been given to Dogri litterateur Yashpaul Nirmal, Gojri writer Choudhary Hassan Parwaz, Pahari writer Parwaiz Manoos, poet Fayaz Dilbar (posthumously), writer-poet Kewal Krishan Sharma and writer-translator Rattan Lal Sharma.
Outstanding sportspersons honoured include cricketers Aquib Nabi Dar and Brijesh Sharma, judokas Rakesh Singh and Vishal Khajuria, wushu player Saleem Kumar, athletes Ravees Ahmad and Mohammad Iqbal, gymnast Sudipti Khanna and skater Aiyza Naz Chib.
The performing arts awards have been conferred on singer Tanya Dev Gupta, actor Anil Tickoo, actor-director Ayash Arif, Rabab artist Abdul Hamid Bhat, Dogri folk singer Raman Singh Slathia, singer and music director Sunil Sharma, theatre personality Ajay Kumar Sharma, producer-director Sudesh K Verma and tabla artist Neeraj Verma.
Awards for excellence in arts and crafts have gone to Sozni artisan Sajjad Husain Bhat, artist and art educator Bhushan Kesar, Kani artisan Mohammad Shafi Bhat, artisan Razia Mushtaq and senior paper pulp craft instructor Ishfar Ali.
For social reforms and empowerment, the government honoured Arhan Bagati, founder of KYARI; Mehjabeen Nabi, founder and president of the Care Foundation and Charitable Trust, Srinagar; and Saadat Nasir Wani Sogami, chairman of Team Red NGO, Kashmir.
In the category of Outstanding Industrial Entrepreneurship, awards have been announced for Mohammad Niyaz-ul-Kabir of GR8 Sports, Sheikh Yameen of Heaventure Adventures Private Limited and Sunil Singh, walnut grower from Kishtwar’s Gold Walnut Farm.