Mumbai: On the terrible night of 26 November 2008, Mumbai was shuddered by sudden sounds of firing. Terrorists attacked two hotels, railway station, hospital, places of worship including Jews Chhabda House. Police officials and employees tried to save Mumbai without caring for their own lives.
It has been twelve years since the deadly terrorist attack in Mumbai city in which 197 persons lost their lives, including some foreigners. More than 600 people were injured. The black memories of that ghastly night still haunt Mumbai residents. The security forces succeeded in capturing only one terrorist Ajmal Kasab alive out of ten terrorists who perpetrated the attack.
A Mumbai police constable Tukaram Omble showed extraordinary gallantry and caught Kasab live even after he was hit by bullets. Police inspector Hemant Bavdhankar was also present at that time along with Tukaram Omble. He spoke to ETV Bharat in this special interview.
Hemant Bavdhankar's personal account of the incident
On 26 November 2008, Hemant Bavdhankar was on duty with D B Marg police station. He was on night shift. After he joined the duty, his senior officials called him in the cabin. They told him that, there had been incidents of firing at Nariman house, Taj Hotel, Tridant Hotel.
Immediately, Hemant Bavdhankar left the station and reached Girgaon Choupati beat post and took police officials with him in his vehicle. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, he immediately cordoned off the area and forced to shut shops and hotels there. Bavdhankar and his fellow officers had turned area of Girgaon Chopaty within some minutes into no man’s land.
Read: Nation pays tribute to 26/11 martyrs on 12th anniversary
Got the information from police control room about terrorists
At eleven in the night, Bavdhankar along with Tukaram Omble and his colleagues had stopped the traffic on the road. At 12 PM, he got information from the police control room about speeding a Skoda on that road. With that information, Bavdhankar along with his colleagues stood on a divider and Tukakam Omble along with other officers stopped at barricades erected there.
At 12 30 PM, Skoda stopped 50 meters away from the police staff. Ajmal Kasab who was hiding in the rear part of the vehicle started to fire AK 47 rifle which was hidden in his jacket. Tukaram Omble instinctly hugged Ajmal while taking his bullets on his chest. After that, Bavdhankar and his colleagues overpowered Kasab and caught him alive.
We are alive only because of Omble
While fighting terrorists firing from AK 47 with extraordinary courage and gallantry, Omble made the utmost sacrifice of his life. His mind was weighing on only his country and colleagues. Hemant Bavdhankar said that due to his unmatched courage, the police officials and constables are alive today and performing their duty.
Also read: Hero of 26/11 Govind Singh Sisodia recounts Kasab's interrogation
