The tragic day of 26/11 Mumbai Attacks cannot be forgotten as it had taken away many lives including a number of brave men who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Ajmal Kasab, the man who shook Mumbai roots, is dead and gone, but the wounds his act of terror inflicted will remain fresh forever. If it was not for Assistant Sub Inspector Tukaram Omble of the Mumbai police, Ajmal Kasab would not have been captured alive. He was the Lionheart who sacrificed himself to save many lives and catch Kasab alive.
Tukaram Omble was an assistant sub-inspector and a retired army man who had entered the Mumbai police department. On the day terrorists attacked Mumbai, ASI Tukaram Omble, 48, was on night duty at a police station at Chowpatty. Tukaram was asked to take up position on Marine Drive, after the news of firings at Leopold Cafe, Oberoi and Taj Hotels came in. Then a message about the two terrorists who hijacked a Skoda car and heading for Girgaum Chowpatty was received by him. Just minutes later, the Skoda whizzed past him.
In a daring act, Omble jumped onto his motorcycle and chased the car. A team from DB Marg police station was setting up a barricade at the Chowpatty signal. As the car approached the signal, the terrorists opened fire on the police but had to reduce speed because of the barricades. Omble overtook the Skoda and stopped in front of it, forcing the driver of the car to swerve right and hit the divider. With the terrorists momentarily distracted, Omble sprang toward one of them, Ajmal Kasab, and gripped the barrel of the AK47 rifle with both hands. With the barrel pointing towards Omble, Kasab pulled the trigger, hitting Omble in the abdomen. In the process, Ajmal fired several shots, killing Omble. Even after being fatally shot, the brave cop firmly held onto the rifle which eventually enabled other officers to apprehend Kasab.
Salute to the unsung hero. The government of India awarded Tukaram Omble 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.
Shri. Tukaram Omble was one of the brave and loyal police officers who made a great sacrifice of his life while capturing a Terrorist. We are grateful from the bottom of our heart for your courageous acts. Rest in peace!