Srinagar, Aug. 29: The tears of a five-year-old girl seem to have made Kashmir cry.

The images of little Zohra, who broke down yesterday at her father's funeral, have taken social media by storm. Zohra's father, assistant sub-inspector Abdul Rashid, 55, was shot dead by militants in south Kashmir's Anantnag district yesterday.

Many in Kashmir usually turn a blind eye to the deaths of cops or civilians at the hands of militants, unlike the killings of civilians and militants by forces that are typically followed by massive anti-government protests.

But images of Zohra weeping at her father's funeral have gone viral, moving many in Kashmir. The pictures show tears rolling down her cheeks and henna applied on her hands, apparently in preparation for Bakr-Id this week.

"So tragic, the perpetrators must be brought to justice, and may the departed soul rest in peace," read a post by a Netizen, Javed Rasool Khan.

Deputy inspector-general of police (south Kashmir) S.P. Pani posted a touching message addressed to the child. "You are too young to understand as to why this happened.... Every drop of your tear sears our heart."

Some regretted that the conflict in Kashmir had consumed thousands of lives in the state and people dying on both sides were Kashmiris. Some others, including top police officer Javaid Gillani, used Zohra's photo as a profile picture for a Facebook post.

Cops have borne the brunt of militant attacks this year, with 23 policemen - the highest in four years - dying in the first seven months. On Saturday, eight security personnel were killed in a suicide strike by militants at Pulwama. Five of them were locals.

In June this year, a police officer was lynched by a pro- azadi mob outside Srinagar's Jamia Masjid, a murder that shocked many in the Valley but did not evoke the kind of outrage that follows the deaths of civilians or militants at the hands of forces.

Yesterday, hundreds participated in Rashid's funeral and top officers, including state police chief S.P. Vaid, attended the wreath-laying ceremony.

Rashid's elder daughter Akhtar said her father had done no wrong. "Why was he killed?" Akhtar asked. She then added: "But I am proud he attained martyrdom. I want the perpetrators punished."

Police sources said Rashid was managing traffic in Anantnag town yesterday when the militants shot him dead.

State police chief Vaid pointed out that the proxy war unleashed by Pakistan was killing the people of the Valley. "I can only say one more person from Jammu and Kashmir has been killed. We are losing lives," Vaid said.