Knocking on heaven's door: Tale of Zohra, daughter of a slain JK policeman

"This time, I will not leave Papa," says eight-year-old Zohra, whose poignant image of tears rolling down her cheeks during her father's funeral last year had taken social media by storm. A year on, her family has managed to convince her that her father will return one day.

Abdul Rasheed Shah, an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Jammu and Kashmir police, was shot dead by militants in Anantnag district of south Kashmir on August 28 last year. He was unarmed and had received bullet injury in his abdomen and later succumbed to injuries.

"She would keep asking where her father has gone. She was inconsolable. We eventually had to convince her that he's gone for Hajj (religious pilgrimage) and will return soon. It has taken a lot of hard work for me and my mother, Naseema, to get Zohra to smile again," Shah's elder daughter Bilkees told PTI.

Zora appears to be convinced with her elder sister's comforting words but said,"This time, I will not leave Papa."
Zohra was still in her school uniform with her hands covered with henna -- which she had applied -- when she had to attend her father's wreath laying ceremony. With the images on social media going viral, many netizens across the globe expressed their sympathies. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said "I can't bear the tearful face of his daughter, Zohra."