Jammu:
20-year-old Rukhsana, who, along with her family, fought terrorists in their house in a Kashmiri village, has turned down a state government job. The offer to be a Special Police Officer would pay her Rs 3,000 a month; there's no pension, and no government benefits.
Late on a September night, Rukhsana's family heard a knock at its front door in a village in the Rajouri district. Three terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Toiba barged in. Grabbing an axe, Rukhsana and her brother fought heroically, killing one terrorist and injuring another.
Since then, Rukhsana has turned into a celebrity, her bravery recognized at various government functions, and by the Home Minister, P Chidambaram.
But this is what she wants. "I'm not saying I want to be in the CRPF, the army, the this or that - or I want to get paid a particular amount. I just want a proper job; any job from the government," she says.
There are also security concerns. Late in October, terrorists retaliated, attacking Rukhsana's house in Rajouri. Fortunately, neither Rukhsana nor other family members were at home.
"The government has tried to give her the job suitable to her qualification, but if she does not want to take it, then the government will make efforts to look other alternatives so that she gets some help to live a good life," says Tara Chand, Deputy Chief Minister.
Rukhsana says her next step is a trip to Ajmer Sharif to pray for peace of mind, security.