26/11 and the horrors that it brought with it still haunt many in Maximum City. An event in India that has gone into the annals of history as one of the darkest Mumbai has ever seen. Of the many lives lost and the excessive damage, one story that brings back the spirit of sacrifice in many of us is the story of ASI Tukaram Omble. Without whom catching the lone terrorist alive, Ajmal Kasab would have been a far – fetched dream.
Life in Mumbai was going on as usual. The day had just gotten over for office goers. The club goers and the party hoppers were enjoying at Taj Hotel. Many of the diners were enjoying a meal. Leopold Cafe was packed with people. All was fine until suddenly TV channels broke news that terrorists had struck in strategically critical areas like Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Marine Drive, Nariman House, Leopold Cafe, Oberoi and Taj Hotels.
ASI Tukaram Omble, 48, was on night duty at a Chowpatty police station. An assistant sub Inspector having earlier served the army, he was the first preference for such a scenario. He was asked to take position at Marine Drive.
Within no time there was a message that a Skoda car hijacked by terrorists was heading for Girgaum Chowpatty. Minutes later the Skoda whizzed past.
Omble, the daredevil that he was, he jumped onto his motorcycle and chased the car. With a barricade setup by the DB Marg police station at the Chowpatty signal the terrorist came face to face with the cops.
The speeding car stopped 50 feet from the barricade. Suddenly, the beam lights went on, and the car swerved towards the barricades.
When the terrorists in the car slowed down Omble overtook the Skoda and stopped forcing the driver to swerve right and hit the divider.
Omble was armed with a baton and a radio.
When the car reached the signal, the cops opened fire. Omble sprang towards the terrorist, Ajmal Kasab in this case gripping the barrel of the AK47 rifle with both hands. While Omble was shot multiple times fatally hit in the abdomen. The brave son of the soil caught the rifle enabling other officers to apprehend Kasab.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead by doctors there.
Tukaram Omble was awarded with the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award for his contribution to the nation in his rare feat to catch a terrorist on a suicide mission alive.
It was because of Omble’s bravery, Kasab was caught alive and confessed to his crime. It also resulted in Pakistan initiating a trial against Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed. For his family, hanging of Kasab was a form of closure.
Even as terror emanating from across the border continues unabated, it is souls like Tukaram Omble who reinforce our faith in the men who sport the Khaki to keep people safe ensuring the rule of law.
Comments