The moments of glory have given way to reality. Now, 20-year-old Rukhsana is afraid of what lies ahead.

"I have killed a top militant. They must be angry that a girl killed a commander. They would have to answer questions about how a girl snatched two guns. They are not going to spare me, wherever I go," she says.

Rukhsana and her family fought off three armed militants on Sunday night. In the struggle, she killed one of them.

Now fearing revenge the family is camping at a shrine with six policemen guarding them.

Strangely, keeping them company are the guns Rukhsana and her mother snatched from the militants, though they are not ready to reveal where they learnt to use automatic weapons.

All they say is they need protection.

"We want a quarter to be given to us in the Rajouri Lines area. And the people deployed for our security should go with us wherever we go," Rukhsana's mother Rashida Begum said.

"She is a brave girl. More people should emulate her. I am the happy that J&K Governor has recommended her for Bravery Awards. And that J&K government has provided her security," says Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Rukhsana and her family members have performed an exceptional feat of bravery. But more than encouragement and appreciation, what they need at this point in time is protection because they are clearly on the hit list of militants now.