26/11/2008 - Heroes gave their lives to let live India long

Terrorist attacks shake any country very deeply that wounds never heals. Loss of property can be recovered but loss of people is irreplaceable.

During a confrontation with terrorists, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was fatally shot. His last directive to his team was: “Don’t come up, I’ll handle them.

As India marks 17 years of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the nation paid homage to the innocent lives lost and the brave heroes who gave their all protecting the city. The 26/11 Mumbai attacks unfolded over four harrowing days beginning on the night of 26 November 2008. Ten heavily armed Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists infiltrated Mumbai by sea and targeted some of the city’s busiest and most iconic locations, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the Oberoi-Trident Hotel, Nariman House, Leopold Café, and Cama Hospital. What followed was a wave of indiscriminate shootings, explosions, fires, and hostage situations that brought India’s financial capital to a standstill. The attacks killed 166 people and left more than 300 injured, leaving behind a scar that remains etched in the nation’s memory as one of its darkest and most defining tragedies.

But what stood out were stories of bravery and courage of not just security forces but also civilians, who fought the terrorists head on and saved the lives of hundreds of others

Hemant Karkare - Chief ATS

Karkare rushed out of his home after being alerted about firing at multiple locations. He joined ACP Ashok Kamte and Inspector Vijay Salaskar in a police Qualis heading toward Cama Hospital, where two terrorists were reported. As they approached the hospital lane, terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail ambushed the vehicle with automatic gunfire. Karkare was hit multiple times and succumbed to his injuries inside the vehicle.

Tukaram Omble

Omble’s actions remain one of the greatest acts of raw courage. At Girgaum Chowpatty, police managed to puncture the tyres of a stolen Skoda carrying Kasab and Ismail. As the terrorists emerged firing, Omble charged forward armed only with a lathi. Kasab tried to shoot him down, but Omble grabbed the barrel of the rifle and held on while taking bullets to the chest. His grip prevented Kasab from reloading, allowing other officers to overpower and capture the terrorist alive.

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan

At the Taj Hotel, NSG’s Major Sandeep led the elite assault team clearing floor after floor. He rescued several hostages, and when a fellow commando, Sunil Yadav, was hit by bullets, Sandeep pushed forward to distract the terrorists. During this confrontation on the sixth floor, he was fatally shot. His last directive to his team was: “Don’t come up, I’ll handle them."

Havildar Gajendra Singh Bisht

During the Nariman House raid, NSG’s Gajendra Singh rappelled onto the roof under sniper fire. As terrorists lobbed grenades and opened automatic fire from inside, he pressed ahead to breach the upper floors. He was critically injured while advancing to reduce the terrorists’ firing angle on his teammates. His actions enabled NSG to take control of critical access points.

Inspector Shashank Shinde

Shinde was part of the early response team that entered the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel to evacuate guests. While securing a stairway and trying to guide trapped civilians, he was shot by terrorists holding positions on higher floors. Despite being critically injured, he continued directing civilians to safety before he collapsed.

PSI Kapil Kashyap

Kashyap responded to reports of gunmen near the Metro Cinema–Cama Hospital zone. He joined a team advancing through dimly lit lanes when the terrorists opened fire from concealed positions. Kashyap was hit during this sudden burst of gunfire and succumbed at the spot.

PSI Bapuji Sonawane

Sonawane was deployed to block possible escape routes around the Cama Hospital area. As he moved in with his unit, terrorists spraying automatic fire struck him. His actions helped slow the terrorists’ movement toward Marine Drive.

PSI Balasaheb Bhosale

Bhosale was among the officers attempting to secure the CST perimeter right after the initial massacre. He was helping evacuate injured passengers when the terrorists returned toward the station area. Caught in the renewed firing, he was hit and later succumbed to his injuries.

Constable Ambadas Pawar

Pawar accompanied a patrol responding to the attack sites near CST and Azad Maidan. While trying to pull injured civilians to safety from open platforms, he was targeted by the terrorists’ indiscriminate firing. He died shielding others.

Constable Balasaheb Bankar

Bankar was helping control crowds fleeing the CST area. He repeatedly moved into exposed corridors to guide people out and was struck by bullets during one such evacuation attempt.

Constable Arvind Nathamwar

Nathamwar was posted near Metro Junction when reports came of terrorists firing from moving positions. As he tried to create a secure corridor for ambulances, he was hit by a burst of fire from the advancing gunmen.

Constable Govind Sankhe

Sankhe was part of the first team attempting to contain the attackers’ movement from CST toward Cama Hospital. He maintained his position under heavy fire until he was fatally wounded.

Constable Prakash More

More helped rescue passengers hiding in corridors at CST. While guiding them to the exit gate, he was shot by terrorists firing down the platform.

Constable Yogesh Patil

Patil was deployed to manage the massive panic around CST. As he tried to reposition barricades to help incoming rescue teams, he was caught in the terrorists’ gunfire and killed instantly.

Constable Vijay More

More responded to calls from the Cama Hospital perimeter. In the course of securing the area and engaging the terrorists’ escape route, he was shot during an encounter and succumbed.

Taj Hotel Staff

Many staff members at the Taj chose to save guests instead of fleeing for their own lives. Chefs, waiters, managers, and housekeeping teams formed human shields, guided people through smoke-filled corridors, and helped evacuate the injured. Their heroism was defined not by weapons, but by compassion and duty. They stood firm even as parts of the building burned and gunmen roamed the halls.