Assam teen to receive bravery award

SIBASAGAR: An Assamese teen will soon get a bravery award for saving her schoolmates from the clutches of an unidentified gunman by volunteering to be hostage.

There were ten other children in the school van when the gunman hijacked the van in Sibasagar District.

Gunjan Sharma, a 14-year-old student, volunteered for the brave act when the gunman used her junior as a shield.

State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi announced a 3,200 dollar reward for Sharma for her courageous act.

Sharma said that she did not expect to be awarded for her bravery.

"I felt good on receiving the award but I didn't do all this for an award. I did this because they were playing with the lives of the small children. At that time I didn't know that I would receive an award for this. The children were crying at that time so I did it," said Sharma.

After hijacking the van, the gunman forced the driver to drive through different villages using an eight-year-old child as his shield. Later, the driver intentionally drove the van into a ditch and then the gunman took the child as a hostage with him to escape.

Sharma volunteered intentionally to become as a hostage to save her junior schoolmate.

Police said the gunman is on the run.