This Article is From Nov 02, 2009

Kashmiri girl to get gallantry award

Jammu and Kashmir: Rukshana, the girl from Jammu and Kasmir, who fought off three militants after she turned their own arms on them and shot one dead is to get a gallantry award.

For years Kashmir valley residents have been terrorized but finally a group of terrorists who had infiltrated into India got a taste of their own medicine.

When they barged into Rukhsana's home in Rajouri district, they were confronted by a woman who was just not ready to take things lying down. She trained the terrorists guns on them in an amazing act of bravery.

"Three militants entered our house. Some of them were outside. They quarreled with our parents and started beating them. We attacked them with an axe," she says, still holding the gun that one of the militants left behind.

Farukh another resident of Shahdra-Sharief says, "After I hit the militants with the axe, he fell down. Then I picked up his rifle and hit him with it several times. He became weak."

Rukhsana adds, "I just went charging, pulled the hair of one, snatched his gun and fired. Watching one of them fall dead the two other injured militants panicked and ran. They left their guns behind.

Shakkat Wadali, Special Superintendent of Police, Rajouri district says, "How long will people bear the atrocities of militants? Time has come for people to resist. So what if it is an AK-47 rifle against an axe?"

What Rukhsana's family has done is a first in 20 years in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a definite act of courage but it has raised concerns that the family could become a target for revenge.


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