13 Years On, Sacrifice Of 26/11 Hero Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan Continues To Be An Inspiration
On Friday, India paid tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives while fighting terrorists who attacked Mumbai on November 26, 2008.
In Mumbai, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and state Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil paid their respects at the memorial for the heroes.?
The 13th anniversary of the deadly terror attack was attended by a limited number of people in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Family members of some of the martyred police personnel also paid tributes at the memorial.
Heroes
The then Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, Army Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Mumbai's Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte, Senior Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Tukaram Omble were among those killed in the attack.
31-year-old NSG Commando Major Unnikrishnan was at the forefront of the fight till November 28, before he laid down his life.
The last message from Sandeep Unnikrishnan while carrying out the operation to eliminate terrorists was: "Don't come up, I will handle them."?
In Bengaluru, where his family lives, the presence of Major Unnikrishnan is very much felt even now.
The second floor of the residence of Unnikrishnan had been converted as a little museum where all army belongings, including his uniform, were kept.
But it has been shut now.
"I have prohibited public entry to the archive now," his father said, adding that he didn't like the way the photos are being put up on social media platforms.
On November 28, on the 13th anniversary of his martyrdom, a bust of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan will be inaugurated at the Kannamangala army base in Bengaluru.
"I am looking forward to the event as it is organised by army personnel. That is where Sandeep Unnikrishnan belongs. The function is going to be attended by jawans to lieutenant generals," his father, K Unnikrishnan, a retired ISRO officer said.
Early life
The family, originally from Kerala had moved to Bengaluru, where Sandeep, the parents' only child grew up.
He joined the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, in 1995 and was a part of the Oscar Squadron and a graduate of the 94th Course NDA.
After graduating from the IMA, Dehradun, he was commissioned as Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment in 1999.
In 2007, he was assigned as the training officer of the 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG) of NSG.
Following the 26/11 terror attack, Major Sandeep along with a group of 10 commandos was tasked to rescue the hostages held by the terrorists inside the Taj Hotel.
"Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan led the commando operation launched on 27th November 2008 to flush out terrorists from Hotel Taj Mahal, Mumbai in which he rescued 14 hostages.
During the operation, his team came under intense hostile fire, in which one of his team members got grievously injured. Major Sandeep pinned down the terrorists with accurate fire and rescued the injured commando to safety. In the process, he was shot in his right arm. Despite his injuries, he continued to fight the terrorists till his last breath.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan displayed most conspicuous bravery besides camaraderie and leadership of the highest order and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation," the citation of the Ashok Chakra, the country's highest peace time gallantry award, conferred to Major Sandeep on January 26, 2009 reads.
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