Srinagar, October 01: Leaders of the Gujjar community in Jammu and Kashmir today said the act of bravery by 18-year-old Rukhsana Kausuar, who killed a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant, was praised by everyone except Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his state ministers.
“The act of bravery has come in for praise from one and all, but the chief minister and his ministers have not uttered even a word on it,” Anwar Choudhary, a Gujjar leader, said in a statement.
On Sunday night, three militant barged into Rukhsana’s house in Shadhara village of Rajouri district, about 190 km northeast of Jammu. The militants demanded that Rukhsana be handed over to them, which her father, mother and brother tried to resist.
At this, the militants started hitting the family members with rifle butts. An angered Rukhsana picked up an axe and killed one of the militants. He was later identified as Abu Osama. In the ensuing violent scuffle, another militant was injured and he and the third person soon fled.
Shamsher Ali Boken, another community leader, said: “The governor (N.N. Vohra) has praised the bravery of the 18-year-old girl. He has even hinted at recommending the girl’s name for a gallantry award. But there has been no word from the state government, not even from the three Gujjar ministers.”(IANS)