The Untold Facts about Mumbai Attacks 26/11 - Part 5

TRAIL AND AWARDS:

• Mohammed Ajmal Aamar Kasab was the only terrorist captured alive,remaining 9 terrorists were killed by the security forces.Later,Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI)added a Pakistani-American David Headly who was being the mastermind of planning 26/11 attacks.On November 21st 2012,Ajmal Kasab was hanged in Yerwada jail in Pune after the President's rejection of the mercy plea made by kasab.On January 23rd 2013,Federtal Court of the United States gave life-time imprisonment to David Headly.

• And ATS Chief Hemant Karkare,Additional Commissioner of south  mumbai Ashok Kamte,Maharastra Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar,Maharastra Police Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Omble,Elite 51-SAG commander Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Havaldar Gajender Singh Bisht were honoured by the India's Highest peace-time gallantry award posthumously.

ABOUT OUR MAJOR SANDEEP UNNIKRISHNAN:

• Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan came from a Nair family residing in Bengaluru,where they had moved to from Chengannur District,Kozhikode,Kerala.He was born on 15th March 1977.He was the only son of retired ISRO officer Mr.K.Unnikrishnan and Mrs.Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan.

• Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan joined the National Defence Academy(NDA).Pune,Maharashtra in 1995.He was a cadet,part of the Oscar Squadron(No 4 Battalion)and a graduate of the 94th course of NDA.He graduated as a Bachelor of Arts (Social Science Stream).His NDA friends remember him as "Selfless","generous" and "Calm and Composed".He was commissioned as lieutenant to the 7th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment (Infantry)on 12 July 1999.After serving the Indian Army in differenet Locations in Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan to counter insurgencies for two terms,he was selected to join the National Security Guards.On Completion of training,he was assigned to the Special Action Group(SAG) of NSG on january 2007 and participated in various operations of the NSG.Sandeep Unnikrishnan served in several conflicts including the kargil war.

• "Do not come up,I will handle them", were the last words which sandeep unnikrishnan told his men as he was hit by bullets while engaging terrorists inside the Taj Mahal Palace &Tower during Operation Black Tornado,according to NSG officials.His bravery was honoured with the Ashoka Chakra,India's higgest peace time gallantry award,on 26 January 2009.God may have taken the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan,but he cannot take away the memories and inspiration which was given by the Major from the hearts of every indian.He gave his life for the welfare of our country .We will not forget you Major .There is no doubt you are a great warrior,we salute you and you are a role model for the Young Indians.

Author of all Five Part of the Article series "The Untold Facts about Mumbai Attacks 26/11":

P.Aswin Manikanda Prabhu