The year was 2008 and the date?November 26. It was the one of the worst terrorist attacks to happen in Mumbai. Fifty-three-year-old Tukaram Omble was on a police bandobast near Girgaum Chowpatty - Mumbai's most iconic beachfront.?
He received a wireless message that two armed terrorists had carjacked a Skoda sedan and it was speeding in his direction. The car stopped at the bandobast and out stepped Kasab from the passenger side, his AK-47 pointed at the waiting policemen.?
Tukaram Omble threw himself at Kasab, even though he was unarmed.?
He was one of the many heroes who sacrificed their lives during the Mumbai terror attack of 26/11, and today we remember him.?
Omble was a jawan in the Indian army before he joined the Mumbai police. He took on Ajmal Kasab and Ismail when they exited Cama Hospital, after they had opened fire on defenceless commuters at the CST railway terminal. They killed more than 50 people there.?
Omble took the spray of bullets that came from KasabĄ¯s gun, as he threw himself on him. His sacrifice led to Kasab being captured alive.?
He was posthumously honored with the Ashoka Chakra on January 26, 2009. Ashoka Chakra is the country's highest peace-time gallantry award for extraordinary bravery and valour in the line of duty.?
A big banner is placed at the entry of Kedambe, the village Tukaram Omble grew up in.?
Nirmal Haridan
'Shaheed Tukaram Omble', says the banner, and it is a daily reminder of his martyrdom.
It is the 11th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks and one cannot not remember Takaram OmbleĄ¯s sacrifice on this day. The Indian Police foundation tweeted about him with the caption, 'Constable Tukaram Omble : Your valour will never be forgotten. Overpowering a heavily armed terrorist, even after getting seriously injured. But for you, Terrorist Kasab would not have been apprehended & brought to justice. Salutes'.
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Let us make sure we remember him along with every martyr who sacrificed his/her life for the sake of our country.?