Remembering The Martyrs Of 26/11: The One We Lost But Haven’t Forgotten
It has been more than 10 years when a horrendous fear attack happened in Mumbai. The assault which shook the entire country, in any case, couldn’t break us. On 26 November 2008, 10 fear mongers assaulted Mumbai. The attack took at 8 places in South Mumbai. Places like CST, Mumbai Chabdh House, The Oberoi, The Taj, Leopold Cafe, Nariman House, Cama Hospital, Metro cinema and Mazgaon faced the terror. This horrendous assault went on for 3 days. 144 civilians lost their lives and around 308 people were injured. 18 police officers and 2 NSG commandos gave their life but didn’t let these terrorists get succeed in their plan. It’s particularly gladdening to think about those courageous men who battled with bravery and surrendered their lives. We owe it to their memory to recollect their gallant motions. This article is a tribute to all the martyrs of 26/11.
Remembering The Martyrs Of 26/11
1) Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan
Major Sandeep was an Indian Army Officer serving in elite Special Action Group of the NSG. He was one of the martyrs during the 26/11 attack. When the hostages were held Major Sandeep was deployed as a team commander of 51 SAG in the Taj. He entered in Taj with 10 commandos and arrived at the 6th floor through the staircase.
During the cycle to save, he got occupied in the firefight and was shot from the back. He later succumbed to his wounds.
“Do not come up, I will handle them,” – Major Sandeep’s Last Words
2) Hawaldar Gajendra Singh Bisht
Gajendra Singh Bisht was an NSG commando and Hawaldar. He gave his life during the 26/11 terror attack. Gajender Singh along with other NSG commandos was deployed at Nariman point. They were deployed at the roof of Nariman House in an activity to kill the terrorists who were holding six hostages.
In the process to rescue the hostages, Gajendra Singh and Team faced fire from the terrorists and they returned fire. However, Hawaldar Gajendra Singh decided to seize this opportunity and he kept moving ahead. He created a way for his team despite facing all the bullets and grenades from the militants. He succumbed to his wounds. However, the Indian Media should also be blamed who live telecasted the whole incident. This telecast clips helped the masterminds sitting in Pakistan to plan their next move
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3) Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Omble
Sub-Inspector Tukaram Omble was Mumbai police officer who gave his life so that Mumbai Police can catch terrorist Ajmal Kasab alive. On 26/11 Sub-Inspector Tukaram and team were guarding a checkpoint. They came to know that 2 terrorists have hijacked a public car and will be moving ahead through the same route. The Mumbai police managed to shoot one of the terrorists.
Ajmal Kasab pretended to surrender. As unequipped Omble approached toward him Kasab open fired. Omble remained before him and clutched the barrel of Kasab’s rifle. Kasab kept consequently firing and Tukaram Omble took all the bullets. Omble had taken 40 bullets of AK-47 but didn’t let Kasab go.
4) ATS Chief Hemant Karkare
Hemant Karkare was the chief of Anti Terror Squad. He was one of the martyrs who gave his life during the 26/11 attack. Thou his death also has indicated some sort of conspiracy. Before 26/11 Hemant Karkare was investigating Malegaon bomb blast case. During the investigation, ATS arrested Pragya Thakur, Dayanand Pandey, Major Ramesh Upadhyay and Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit. After this arrest, several saffron based parties started calling Karkare traitor. According to Karkare’s source, he was very close to expose something big.
But then 26/11 happened. Hemant Karkare along with Vijay Salaskar and Ashok Kamte reached Cama hospital. He saw Kasab running and he took a shot on Kasab and this resulted in serious injury to Kasab. Karkare, Kamte, Salaskar and others died in fighting the Mumbai attacks, on 27 November 2008. During post mortem, the bullet found in Karkare’s body didn’t match with terrorist’s bullet.
5) Inspector Vijay Salaskar
Vijay Salaskar was an encounter specialist, He encountered around 75-80 criminals. Salaskar died during 26/11 incident. He along with Hemant Karkare and Ashok Kamte reached Cama hospital. Salaskar alongside three officials and 4 constables, drove the Toyota Qualis towards the terrorist.
However, he capitulated to his wounds when terrorists started shooting at him and we lost a benevolent cop.
6) Additional Commissioner Ashok Kamte
Ashok Kamte was serving as additional commissioner of Mumbai police of eastern region. The region which was not under the attack still he assisted and accompanied Salaskar and Karkare. Kamte spotted a few terrorists and fired at them. Terrorist responded by throwing hand grenades at them.
Kamte proposed that they should take on terrorist from the front passage of the Cama. But terrorists escaped from cama before the plan could come into action. These terrorist were hiding in the nearby lane. Terrorist Ismail Khan open fired which took the life of Ashok Kamte.
7) Additional Commissioner Sadanand Date
Sadanand Date was an IPS officer who gave his life during the 26/11 incident. He was deployed at Cama hospital where the terrorists had just only one intention i.e. killing. Sadanand Date resisted terrorists and save many children and women. Date faced some serious injuries. But he still managed to place the call for help.
Salaskar, Kamte, Karkare and other officers came to help Date. Later on, medical facilities reached up to Date.
Initially, Pakistan condemned the attack. Ajmal Kasab was arrested and he disclosed that he is a Pakistani Citizen. He agreed on masterminds were also controlling the whole action by sitting in Pakistan. The Indian officials provided with all the necessary proof and finally, Pakistan agreed. Due to pressure from Internationational bodies, Pakistan arrested a few masterminds. They were house arrested, but later on, Pakistan being Pakistan let these criminals roam freely. In 2018 the former prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif indirectly accepted Pakistan involvement in not preventing the attack.
Aye mere vatan ke logon, Jara aankh me bhar lo paanee
Jo shahid huye hain unakee, Jara yaad karo kurbaanee -Lata Mangeshkar ji
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