The November 2008 Mumbai attacks were a string of terrorist strikes in which ten members of Pakistani militant Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba executed twelve planned bombing and gun operations over the course of four days in Mumbai. Remembering heroes whose valorous move have saved many lives
Tukaram Omble
Omble worked for the Mumbai Police as an ASI. He and his group were manning a roadblock on November 26 when two terrorists in a car they had stolen approached them. One terrorist was shot and killed inside the car during the initial shootout. Ajmal Kasab, the other terrorist, got out of the car and pretended to be a helpless victim. Kasab stood up and started shooting at an unarmed Omble that was approaching him. Omble died as a result of standing in front of Kasab and gripping the rifle’s barrel, stopping any other people from being hurt by the bullets. Later, Omble received the Ashoka Chakra from the Indian government as a reward for his assistance in capturing Kasab.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan oversaw the November 27, 2008, commando operation that freed 14 hostages and drove terrorists out of the Taj Mahal in Mumbai. One of his team members suffered severe injuries as a result of fierce enemy fire that his squad encountered during the operation. By using precise fire, Major Sandeep managed to bring the wounded commando to safety while also pinning down the terrorists. He took a bullet to the right arm during the process. Even with his wounds, he fought the terrorists till the very end. Government conferred him Ashoka Chakra for his bravery.
Mallika Jagad
With the aid of her team, Mallika was able to save the lives of those sixty individuals; Mumbai had never experienced such misery and suffering. The city was turned into a center of fire, suffering, blood, screams, and death by the terrorists, who did not spare any children.
Karambir Kang
Taj Hotel’s General Manager lost everything, his wife, his children (2 sons) but stood strong to save many lives ahead.
Sandra Samuel
A group of assailants broke inside the Chabad house during the start of the Mumbai attacks and started shooting at everyone within. Hearing gunfire, Samuel fled into a laundry room where she heard Rivka yelling. Afterwards, she heard Moshe sobbing and yelling her name. Following her exit from the room and her dash upstairs, she discovered the child’s parents, Gavriel and Rivka, motionless and covered in blood, with Moshe sobbing next to them with his pants completely covered in blood. Samuel claimed that while the attackers were still inside the building, she grabbed Moshe and fled with Qazi Zakir Hussain, a Nariman House employee. Gavriel and Rivka were confirmed dead in the attacks when Indian commando troops stormed the house later.
Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar
Alongside senior police officers Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar, Karkare was a 1982 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who was assassinated outside Cama Hospital in south Mumbai. On the evening of November 26, 2008, Ajmal Kasab and his accomplice Abu Ismail opened fire on the police van, killing the three police officers. The Ashoka Chakra was given to Karkare on January 26, 2009.
