A tribute to 'bravehearts' who sacrificed their lives on 26/11 to save Mumbai

New Delhi: 26/11will be remembered as the most heinous act committed by terrorists on Indian soil but this date will be remembered also for some of the most heroic and courageous sons of mother India who laid down their lives in line of their duty .Their heroic act not only helped in foiling, to a certain extent, the evil designs of terrorists but also checked the bloodshed in which the common and innocent Mumbaikars were targeted upon.Every security personnel who were out on duty that night tried to stop the mayhem and massacre that was carried out by some misguided youths. Let's take a look upon the brave martyrs who laid down their lives for the safety and security of the nation and Mumbai city Assistant Sub- Inspector Tukaram Omble:The brave assistant sub –Inspector was on duty on the night of the attacks and was ordered into position on Marine Drive, after the attack on the popular Leopold Cafe nearby. Tukaram and his team engaged the terrorists, who were attempting to flee in a hijacked Skoda car. Moments after taking up his position, Omble reportedly chased them on his motorcycle, equipped with only a latht.As the terrorists approached a barricade, Omble maneuvered his motorcycle to force them to turn sharply and hit the dividers. With the attackers distracted, Omble charged them down and attempted to grapple Kasab's gun from him. During the fight, Kasab managed to fire several rounds which struck Omble in the abdomen.Omble was seriously injured but this brave heart did not give up and used his body as a shield to save his team from being shot. This act of Omble had given enough time for his colleagues to kill the other terrorist in the car and capture Kasab alive, thus saving their lives and the lives of countless others.Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Omble was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award for his services to the nation. Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar & Ashok Kamte: This was the biggest loss that the Mumbai Police had to suffer on the night of 26/11 when three of their best serving officers became the target of the bullets of terrorists. Hemant Karkare who was an ex-member of India's Research and Analysis Wing. He was at his residence when he was informed that Mumbai was under attack by a group of terrorists. As per information, he moved to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus but when he reached there the station was lying in a pool of blood. The place wore a deserted look as the terrorists now moved forward to the Cama and Albless hospital , near the Azad Maidan police station.Hemant Karkare then teamed up there with SPI Vijay Salaskar and ACP Ashok Kamte.SPI Vijay Salaskar was a well-known encounter specialist who was the head of the Anti-Extortion Cell in Mumbai. He was reportedly responsible for the killing of 75-80 criminals. Amongst his most famous cases, was his pursuit of the former Mumbai don, Arun Gawli, currently an MLA.ACP Ashok Kamte was a highly decorated police officer who was also a talented athlete, who had represented India in the junior power lifting championships in Peru in 1978.Along with four constables, the officers boarded a Toyota Qualis and proceeded to the hospital.Five minutes into their journey, they were ambushed by two terrorists with AK-47's, who opened fire indiscriminately on the men trapped in the Qualis. The three officers were killed instantly, despite their protective attire, and the constables at the back where helpless as the bullets flew into them. Constable Arun Jadhav, the sole survivor of the attack, was helpless to do anything as the terrorists dragged the dead and dying men out of the car while he lay wounded on the road.Following their deaths, all three men were awarded the Ashoka Chakra in recognition of the sacrifices they had made.Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan: After the government decided that those heavily armed terrorists can only be tackled by the elite commandos of Indian Army, the National Security Gaurds or known famously as NSG took over the command of the operation.During the Mumbai attacks, Major Unnikrishnan was the team commander of 51 Special Action Group commandos, who were positioned at the Taj Mahal Hotel to flush out the terrorists hiding in there.Major Unnikrishnan had shown his heroics during the Kargil war also . Major Unnikrishnan led a team of six soldiers in establishing an observation post 200 meters from the enemy, while coming under direct fire. It was on the third floor of the hotel that the Major led a team of 10 men, where the found the men holed up in a room with women being held as hostages.Locating the terrorists on the third floor In the ensuing firefight, one of the commandos was hit and brutally wounded, Major Unnikrishnan arranged for him to be vacated before moving forward, regardless of his own safety, chasing the terrorists, who had fled to another floor. In the encounter that followed, he was ambushed and shot in the back, succumbing to his injuries.