By IANS,
Jammu: Rukhsana Kousar, the brave heart of Rajouri who killed top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant Abu Osama in her house in September last year, Saturday received an award for her act of exemplary bravery.
The Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak was presented to Rukhsana, on behalf of President Pratibha Patil, by Rajouri Deputy Commissioner J.P.Singh at an official function in Rajouri, 160 km north of Jammu.
Rukhsana’s younger brother Aijaz was awarded the Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak, an award in the next category for bravery.
While Rukhsana, 19, was presented the medal and cash award of Rs.75,000, her brother Aijaz, 17, was given the medal and Rs.45,000.
These awards were announced last week for Rukhsana and Aijaz last week.
Rukhsana and Aijaz had resisted the militants who had barged into their house in Shahdara Sharif, about 30 km north of Jammu, Sep 28, 2009. The sister and brother duo attacked LeT militant Abu Osama with an axe before snatching his rifle and firing at him. The militant was killed on the spot, while two other militants were injured but managed to escape.
That was the first incident of a girl taking on militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s 20 years of insurgency.
Rukhsana and her brother have been enrolled as constables in Jammu and Kashmir Police.