Rukhsana gets Sarvotam jeevan raksha padakh

After being conferred the Kirti Chakra for countering and killing a Lashkar terrorist who barged into their house last year, a girl and her brother today received the Sarvotam Jeevan Raksha Padak awarded by the Centre.
    
21-year old Rukhsana and her 19-year old brother Aijaz were given Sarvotam Jeevan Raksha Padak and Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak respectively by deputy commissioner (DC) JP Singh and deputy inspector general (DIG), SDS Jawal at a function in Rajouri district, 177 km from here.
    
The award was announced by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) for the brother-sister duo.
    
Rukhsana and Aijaz had snatched an AK rifle from LeT Commander Abu Usma and killed him with his own weapon when he and another militant barged into their house on September 27, 2009.
   
 The brother-sister drove away the other militant and also snatched his weapon.
    
In recognition of his brave act, Jammu and Kashmir police appointed Ruksana as constable in the state Police and her brother as Special Police Officer (SPO) January this year.
    
"I am happy to get the medals. I want to tell all girls in rural areas to get up and fight militants and not tolerate their atrocities", Kouser told reporters at the function.
    
"If you have the courage to fight, terrorists will have to run away or get killed," she added.