A heroic act: Delhi woman braves violent clashes to rescue 40 relatives

Mushtari Khatoon

On February 25, Mushtari Khatoon left her usual household chores and waded through violent clashes in Delhi to rescue her family members.

The eventual rescue involved the family members being trapped for four hours on a rooftop while mayhem ensued below. Mushtari managed to move her extended family from roof to roof to safety.

Below is a detailed account of her story as featured in The Times of India.

The 42-year-old walked through a kilometre of road under the control of a violent mob, dodging bullets and stones to the aid of her 40 extended family members caught in the crosshairs.

They were trapped in Khajuri Khas area, a north-east Delhi neighbourhood. This was among one of the worst affected areas during the clashes between protesters and supporters of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, reports Indian news media.

"I waited for the whole of Monday. On Tuesday, I left early in the morning," she was quoted as saying according to the Times of India. When Mushari got there, she realised there was no way she could take them to safety through the main road.

It was Mushtari's quick thinking -- chaperoning her relatives through open terraces -- that eventually led the extended family of nearly 40 to a police team who gave them safe passage.

Meanwhile, in her own neighbourhood, Mushtari is now being hailed for her courage and bravery.

That day Mushtari saved eight families -- all related to each other.