Each year we count, nowit’s 13 years, and the memories of long, black darkness that lasted for threedays are still fresh in our collective minds. But let's not just remember the horror of 26/11 Mumbai attacks but theheroes who laid down their lives while fighting terrorists.
Today, MaharashtraGovernor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and stateHome Minister Dilip Walse Patil paid floral tributes to the martyrs who gavetheir lives fighting terrorists in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. The respectswere paid at the memorial at the police headquarters in south Mumbai.
Because of ongoing work onthe Coastal Road project, the martyrs' memorial has been moved from itsoriginal location at the Police Gymkhana in Marine Drive to the policeheadquarters at Crawford Market, according to an official. Uddhav Thackeray,who is recovering in a Mumbai hospital following spine surgery, also paidtribute to the 26/11 martyrs.
Due to the COVID-19pandemic, only a small number of people attended the 13th anniversary of thedeadly terror attack. At the memorial, family members of some of the martyredcops also paid their respects.
During the ceremony,dignitaries met with the families of some of the martyrs.
The Horror
On November 26, 2008, aseries of attacks were carried out by 10 terrorists of Laskar-e-Taiba, who cameby the sea route from Pakistan. The attacks lasted for three days killing 166people, including security personnel and injuring more than 300. Nine of theterrorists were gunned down by the National Security Guard (NSG) and MumbaiPolice.
Ajmal Kasab was the onlyterrorist who was captured alive and later was convicted and sentenced todeath. He was hanged by the Indian jail authorities on 21 November 2012, justfive days before the fourth anniversary of the attacks.
The terrorists hadtargeted India’s financial capital- Mumbai’s most crowded places including theChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, HotelTrident, Nariman House, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital and the Nariman HouseJewish community center, now renamed Nariman Light House.
Hemant Karkare, thethen-head of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Army Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan,Mumbai's Adsditional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte, Senior Police InspectorVijay Salaskar, and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Tukaram Omble are among themartyrs of 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The heroes
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan
Unnikrishnan, a fearlessNSG commando, upheld the Indian Army's motto of "service before self"while fighting terrorists inside the Taj hotel. He and a group of ten commandoshad stormed the hotel and engaged the perpetrators in a firefight. MajorSandeep Unnikrishnan's last words to his men as he was hit by bullets whileengaging terrorists inside the Taj were probably, "Do not come up, I willhandle them."
For his bravery, thegovernment later awarded him the Ashoka Chakra.
Tukaram Omble
Tukaram Omble, a retiredIndian Army soldier who was serving as an assistance sub-inspector for theMumbai police, is the reason terrorist Ajmal Kasab was apprehended.
On the morning ofSeptember 26th, he and his team were guarding one of the checkpoints when twoterrorists hijacked his car, one of whom was killed in the initial shootout.The other terrorist, Ajmal Kasab got out of the car and lay down to pretend tosurrender. However, as Omble who was unarmed approached him, Kasab stood up andattempted to open fire at police.
Omble took a step in frontof him and grabbed Kasab's rifle barrel, preventing the bullets from hittinganyone else. Kasab was overpowered and apprehended by the rest of the team.Omble died after taking over 40 bullets from an AK-47 at point-blank range.
For his extraordinarybravery, the government awarded him the Ashoka Chakra posthumously.
Hemant Karkare
While fighting terrorists,the Anti-Terrorist Squad chief was shot three times in the chest outside CamaHospital in south Mumbai.
"Karkare was one of thebest police officers in Maharashtra, and I dare say in India," said formerMumbai Police Commissioner Julio Rebeiro
Ashok Kamte
Then AdditionalCommissioner of the Mumbai Police Ashok Kamte was supervising the Easternregion when he was killed during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Even though his area Eastzone was not under attack, he offered his assistance during the attacks.
Ashok Kamte had woundedAjmal Kasab in his hand even while being fatally ambushed at midnight in theRang Bhavan Lane. Due to Kamte, Ajmal Kasab was apprehended alive. In thenarrow lane between St Xaviers College and Rang Bhavan in south Mumbai, he,too, was killed by terrorists.
Vijay Salaskar
Vijay Salaskar, anencounter specialist, was also killed in the line of duty during the Mumbaiattacks. Ajmal Kasab, a captured terrorist, confessed to killing Salaskarduring interrogation. Before his death, Salaskar was the head of theAnti-Extortion Cell. On January 26, 2009, the government awarded him the AshokaCharka for his bravery.
Hawaldar Gajendra Singh
Hawaldar Gajendra Singhwas a member of the NSG commando team that abseiled from the roof of NarimanHouse, where terrorists were holding at least six hostages. Terrorists openedfire on the team at the hostage location. Terrorists also lobbed a few grenadesat commandos. His ultimate sacrifice was instrumental in the NSG team securinga commanding lead in the fight.