Tukaram Omble
Encyclopedia
Tukaram Omble was an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), and a retired army man who had entered the Mumbai police
. He was killed during the 2008 Mumbai attacks
while fighting terrorists at Girgaum Chowpatty. The Indian government honored him with the Ashoka Chakra
– for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice – on 26 January 2009.
, enabling other officers to arrest him. In the process, Ajmal fired several shots, killing Omble.
Omble's senior told him to take up position on Marine Drive on Wednesday night, after the news of firings at Leopold Cafe
, Oberoi and Taj Hotels came in. Around 12.45 am, he got an alert on his walkie-talkie that two terrorists had hijacked a Skoda car and were heading for Girgaon Chowpatty. Just minutes later, the Skoda whizzed past him.
Omble jumped on to 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. Ajmal Kasab
stepped out of the car, while the other terrorist- Ismail, was still in the driver's seat. Kasab first pretended to surrender, but as the policemen advanced towards him, he pulled out his AK 47. Ombale jumped on him and gripped the barrel of the AK47 rifle with both hands. Kasab pulled the trigger, shooting Omble in the abdomen. Omble collapsed, but held on to the gun till he lost consciousness, which disabled Kasab from shooting others. Fellow policemen, who by that time had shot Ismail dead, captured Kasab alive. The investigative agencies learned about the entire 26/11 plot from the sole terrorist in subsequent days.
Medical officers later revealed that more than 20 bullets were recovered from Ombale's body.
"I saw terrorists firing on TV and came to the station. The inspector was outside the police station and he ordered us to immediately cordon off Girgaum Chowpatty," says Sanjay Govilkar, Assistant Police Inspector (API), Mumbai Police. "There were seven policemen in civil cloths at Girgaon Chowpatty. Only I was armed with a pistol while all others carrying lathis (sticks)," Bhaskar Kadam another reveals. It was in a silver-coloured Skoda that Kasab and Ismail Khan were racing down marine drive, but they were in for a surprise at Girgaon Chowpatty. "At around 0030 hrs IST a Skoda car stopped about 50 feet from the barricade," says Govilkar. "They tried to escape by taking a U-turn. But they hit the divider and the car stopped," says another Mumbai Police official Hemant Baudankar says. "Kasab started firing from his AK47 as soon as he saw that we were coming to catch him," says Govilkar. Baudankar says that Assistant Sub Inspector Tukaram Omble was hit by the bullets as he was the first to charge towards Kasab and his associate armed with just a stick. "All those who were with Omble survived as he stood like a shield," adds Kadam. "When we saw that Omble was not letting go of the terrorist's gun, we knew we could not let his sacrifice go in vain. He held on and we completed his unfinished task," his colleague Sanjay Govilkar said
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Mumbai Police
The Mumbai Police is the police force of the city of Mumbai, India. It has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Mumbai. The department's motto is ""...
. He was killed during the 2008 Mumbai attacks
2008 Mumbai attacks
The 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than 10 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's largest city, by Islamist attackers who came from Pakistan...
while fighting terrorists at Girgaum Chowpatty. The Indian government honored him with the Ashoka Chakra
Ashoka Chakra Award
The Ashok Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other...
– for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice – on 26 January 2009.
Summary
Omble was an ASI with the Mumbai Police. His team was under-equipped for the attack, but managed to kill one terrorist and arrest the only terrorist taken alive. Unarmed, Omble held onto the gun of injured terrorist Ajmal KasabAjmal Kasab
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab is a Pakistani Islamic terrorist who was involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks in India. Kasab is the only attacker captured alive by police and is currently in Indian custody. The Government of Pakistan initially denied that Kasab was from Pakistan, but in January 2009,...
, enabling other officers to arrest him. In the process, Ajmal fired several shots, killing Omble.
Details
On the day terrorists attacked Mumbai, ASI Tukaram Omble, 48, was on the night beat. At 12.30 am on 27 November he had called his family and spoke to them.Omble's senior told him to take up position on Marine Drive on Wednesday night, after the news of firings at Leopold Cafe
Leopold Cafe
The Leopold Cafe is a large and popular restaurant and bar on Colaba Causeway, in the Fort area of Mumbai, India, located across from the Colaba Police station.It was one of the first sites attacked during the November 2008 Mumbai attacks...
, Oberoi and Taj Hotels came in. Around 12.45 am, he got an alert on his walkie-talkie that two terrorists had hijacked a Skoda car and were heading for Girgaon Chowpatty. Just minutes later, the Skoda whizzed past him.
Omble jumped on to 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. Ajmal Kasab
Ajmal Kasab
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab is a Pakistani Islamic terrorist who was involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks in India. Kasab is the only attacker captured alive by police and is currently in Indian custody. The Government of Pakistan initially denied that Kasab was from Pakistan, but in January 2009,...
stepped out of the car, while the other terrorist- Ismail, was still in the driver's seat. Kasab first pretended to surrender, but as the policemen advanced towards him, he pulled out his AK 47. Ombale jumped on him and gripped the barrel of the AK47 rifle with both hands. Kasab pulled the trigger, shooting Omble in the abdomen. Omble collapsed, but held on to the gun till he lost consciousness, which disabled Kasab from shooting others. Fellow policemen, who by that time had shot Ismail dead, captured Kasab alive. The investigative agencies learned about the entire 26/11 plot from the sole terrorist in subsequent days.
Medical officers later revealed that more than 20 bullets were recovered from Ombale's body.
"I saw terrorists firing on TV and came to the station. The inspector was outside the police station and he ordered us to immediately cordon off Girgaum Chowpatty," says Sanjay Govilkar, Assistant Police Inspector (API), Mumbai Police. "There were seven policemen in civil cloths at Girgaon Chowpatty. Only I was armed with a pistol while all others carrying lathis (sticks)," Bhaskar Kadam another reveals. It was in a silver-coloured Skoda that Kasab and Ismail Khan were racing down marine drive, but they were in for a surprise at Girgaon Chowpatty. "At around 0030 hrs IST a Skoda car stopped about 50 feet from the barricade," says Govilkar. "They tried to escape by taking a U-turn. But they hit the divider and the car stopped," says another Mumbai Police official Hemant Baudankar says. "Kasab started firing from his AK47 as soon as he saw that we were coming to catch him," says Govilkar. Baudankar says that Assistant Sub Inspector Tukaram Omble was hit by the bullets as he was the first to charge towards Kasab and his associate armed with just a stick. "All those who were with Omble survived as he stood like a shield," adds Kadam. "When we saw that Omble was not letting go of the terrorist's gun, we knew we could not let his sacrifice go in vain. He held on and we completed his unfinished task," his colleague Sanjay Govilkar said
Awards and Honours
- Tukaram Omble was awarded the Ashoka Chakra which is the highest peacetime gallantry award.
- He was also awarded CNN Indian of the year award under the category 'Extraordinary service to the nation'
- A bronze statue of Omble has been erected at Chowpatty in his memory.
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See also
- Hemant KarkareHemant KarkareHemant Karkare was the chief of the Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad. He was killed during the 2008 Mumbai attacks after being shot three times in the chest...
- Sandeep UnnikrishnanSandeep UnnikrishnanSandeep Unnikrishnan was a Major in the Indian Army serving in the elite Special Action Group of the National Security Guards . He was killed in action while fighting terrorists in the November 2008 Mumbai attacks...
- Vijay SalaskarVijay SalaskarVijay Salaskar was a Senior Police Inspector and encounter specialist serving with the Mumbai police. He was widely credited with killing 75–80 criminals in encounters — most of these were members of the Arun Gawli gang...
- Ashok KamteAshok KamteAshok Kamte was the Additional Commissioner of Mumbai Police for the East Region. He was killed in terrorist action during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. His bravery was honoured with the Ashoka Chakra on 26 January 2009....
- Havaldar Gajender SinghHavaldar Gajender SinghHavaldar Gajender Singh Bisht was an NSG commando who died during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. His act of bravery was honoured with the Ashoka Chakra award by the President of India on 26 January 2009, India's republic day.-Childhood:...