Little Zohra Rashid, whose father Abdul Rashid, a sub-inspector of police was murdered by militants, found a saviour in cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who decided to pay for her education.
Photos of Zohra, which showed her crying and wiping tears at her father's funeral, triggered a torrent of sympathy for her and her family.
Rashid was unarmed when militants fired at him from close range, when he was regulating traffic in Mehndi Kadal of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on August 28.
“Zohra, I can't put you to sleep with a lullaby but I'll help you to wake up to live your dreams,'' tweeted Gambhir. ''Will support your education for lifetime.”
When Zohra, who is five-years-old, was told about Gambhir's announcement, she said: "I want to thank Gautam Gambhir sir. I am happy and my family is also happy. I want to pursue my education to become a doctor. Thank you Gautam sir."
Shah Faisal, her brother, said that they were happy that the cricketer pledged to support for his sister's education. "Now we will admit her to a better school,'' he said. "We had heard that Gambhir wanted to help Zohra, but today he has announced".
Buoyed by Gambhir's gesture, Jammu and Kashmir police invited the cricketer and public figures to visit the state and encourage their staff.
“The support for J&K police martyrs shown by a celebrity like Gambhir will go a long way in boosting the morale of forces and an assurance to kin of martyrs that the citizens of the country care for them,” said DGP Shesh Paul Vaid.
J&K police have got many offers for donations across India for police martyr families. “Keeping in view this interest and response, it is requested that the donations can be made online,” said a police spokesman.