26/11 Anniversary: Stories of Courage and Valour of Men Who Laid Down Their Lives to Save Mumbai

Mumbai, November 26: On this day in 2008, Mumbai witnessed its worst terror attack. And though the city is known for moving on and getting back on its feet quite quickly one tragedy after another, the sheer brutality and havoc laid on the city by the LeT trained terrorists from Pakistan still leave many numb. People watched in terror, the constant battle between the security forces and the terrorists for over 60 hours as brave men and women laid down their lives to save Mumbai. 26/11 Anniversary: Mumbai Police Commissioner Subodh Jaiswal Says Threat of Terror Attack by Pakistan Bigger Than That of ISIS.

Below is the video showing the stories of men who dared and laid their lives for saving Mumbai in the 26/11 attacks:

Mumbai Police Sub Inspector Tukaram Omble

The only terrorist held alive was Ajmal Kasab and it is to the credit of Mumbai assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Omble who took bullets to his chest and was martyred to ensure that Mumbai gets answers to the worst assault on it. Had it not been for Tukaram Omble's bravery, Mumbai and India would have known little about the plot that shook the country on that tragic night.

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, led the Operation Black Tornado to rid the city of the terrorists who remained hidden in the Taj hostel and had held the guests and staff hostage. Major Unnikrishnan, all of 31-year-old, led his team of National Security Guard (NSG) commandos and saved the 14 guests and staff at the hotel. However, the officer succumbed to bullet wounds fighting the terrorists but remains an iconic figure and is an inspiration for the youth willing to serve and sacrifice for the country. 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks: Father Remembers Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan.

Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar 

Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner Ashok Kamte and Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar, upon hearing the news of attack on the city, decided to take on the terrorists head on and immediately rushed together in the Toyota Qualis police vehicle. The officers were on way to Cama Hospital, close to the CST station but were attacked by the terrorists. Though the officers retaliated and fought till their last breath, the heavy artillery and advanced ammunition with the terrorists enabled them to fatally attack the officers. Mumbai lost its three super cops at the same time as they were martyred in the attack.

Havaldar Gajendra Singh

Gajendra Singh Bisht, an NSG commando, was part of the Operation Black Tornado and sacrificed his life fighting the terrorists. He was part of the Parachute Regiment, the team that fought terrorists at Nariman House and took the lead in heading towards the terrorists, taking bullets to his chest and making way for other commandos.

Mumbai Police paid tribute to the martyrs of 26/11 on the 10th anniversary of the attacks. Watch the video below:

Talking about the attacks, ten heavily-armed terrorists trained by LeT, sneaked through the Arabian Sea and attacked multiple locations in South Mumba killing 166 persons, including Indian security personnel and 26 foreign nationals and left another 300 injured, besides inflicting huge damage to public and private properties. The only terrorist captured alive was Ajmal Kasab, who was hanged in the year 2012.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 10:56 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).