Rukhsana Kausar (born 1989) is a Pahari Gujjar woman from Upper Kalsi known for the 2009 shooting of
Rukhsana Kausar (born 1989) is a Pahari Gujjar woman from Upper Kalsi known for the 2009 shooting of a LeT militant at her home, in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). She was born to Noor Hussain and Rashida Begum. A Class 10 dropout, she has been awarded the India National Bravery Award, for the killing of a Laskar-E-Taiba militant leader at her residence, using an axe and AK47 rifle. She has a younger brother, Aijaz, who helped her chase other militants and contact the police afterward. Rukhsana Kausar had been abducted in July 2009, about 2 months earlier, and the home-invasion incident was considered in relation to that kidnapping. The family was moved to high-security government housing, and later attacks have been thwarted. She and her brother have received several major awards for their actions, and both declined offers to join the local police force Militant Incident On Sunday night at around 9:30 pm, September 27, 2009, three militants came to the house of Waqalat Hussain, Rukhsana’s uncle. They had forced him to lead them to his elder brother Noor Hussain’s adjoining house. When Noor Hussain did not open the door, the three allegedly broke open a window and entered the house. By then, he with his wife, Rashida Begum, had hidden Rukhsana beneath a cot. They demanded Rukhsana be handed over to them. When her parents and younger brother Aijaz tried to resist, the militants started hitting them with rifle butts. Rukhsana emerged from her hiding place with an axe and hit the LeT commander on his head. One of the militants opened fire, injuring Waqalat Hussain in his arm. Other family members joined Rukhsana in attacking the militants. Rukhsana picked up the commander’s AK47 rifle, retrieved another from the other militant, and threw it to her brother. Rukhsana shot the commander, killing him, and she and her brother fired on the other militants, forcing them to flee. Rukshana and her brother then led their family to the Shahdra Shareif police post and handed over the weapons. En route, to ensure that the militants stayed away, her brother fired in the air at regular intervals until they reached the police post. The militant was later identified as Abu Osama, a commander of Laskar-E-Taiba. According to Rukhsana’s mother, he had earlier threatened Rukhsana to beware. Critical location Main articles: Rajouri and Rajouri district. Shahdra Sharief in Rajouri district, the place where Rukhsana’s house is located, is 20 miles (32 km) away from the cease-fire line between the Indian and Pakistani forces. It is close to dense forests known to be a hiding place of the LeT militant group that is believed to have carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks. AftermathAfter her shooting incident, Rukhsana Kausar stated:“I don’t want a job in Jammu, but in Delhi. The Centre has to give me a job in the capital …we will be safer there. It’s not that I want to leave my house at Rajouri district in J&K, but after that incident, I am sure the terrorists will target me andmy family.” –Rukhsana to reportersTo ensure the family’s protection, a special police post had been set up at Noor Hussain’s house. Rukhsana and Aijaz were also offered jobs as Special Police Officers. The offer was reportedly declined owing to the possibility of violent reprisal in J&K. Instead Rukhsana stated she wanted the center to protect her family and move them to Delhi. Revenge attack On October 31, 2009, unidentified gunmen threw two hand grenades and fired several rounds at Rukhsana’s house at around 10:30 pm. The grenades, however, missed and exploded away from her house. Later, the militants again fired from a hilltop, retreating soon afterwards as night fell. As no family members were present at the time, there were no casualties. They had already been moved to a high-security police colony on October 7, 2009, where a government quarter has been allotted to them. On Tuesday night, November 10, 2009, following a tip-off, the security forces recovered an improvised explosive device (IED) near Rukhsana’s house. It was later defused by a bomb disposal squad. 2013 By 2013, Rukhsana had taken a position as constable in her home town. She had two daughters. She still sought security from the government for her family. She had been awarded National Bravery Award, Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, Sardar Patel Award, Rani Jhansi Bravery Award and Astha Award among others wiki. -- source link
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