The cop who knew no fear - Nikhil S Dixit : DNA Mumbai Dec 1^st

 

The two terrorists were armed with AK-47 assault rifles & hand grenades; he carried just a walkie-talkie.  There was no way ASI Tukaram Omble, 48, could have survived the encounter.  But before dying he ensured that at least one of the 28/11 terrorists was caught alive.

Omble was asked by his seniors to take up position on Marine Drive on Wednesday night, after the news of firings, at Leopold Cafe, Oberoi & Taj Hotels came in. Around 12.45 am he got an alert on his wakie-talkie that two terrorists had hijacked a Skoda car & were heading for Girgaum Chowpatty. Just minutes later , the Skoda wizzed past him.

Omble jumped on to his two wheeler & chased the car. A team from the DB Marg police station was setting up a naka bandhi at chowpatty signal.  As the car approached the signal , the terrorists opened fire on the cops, but were forced to reduce the speed because of the barricades.

Omble overtook the Skoda & stopped in front of it, forcing the driver of the car to swerve right & hit the divider.  With the terrorists momentarily distracted, Omble sprang towards one of them, Amir Kasab. & gripped the barrel of the AK-47 riffle with both hands..  With the barrel pointing towards Omble, Amir pulled the trigger. A spray of bullets entered his stomach & intestine.  Omble collapsed, but held onto the gun till he breathed his last, stopping Amir from shooting anyone else.

The other cops, who by that time had killed the other terrorist, Ismail, pounced on Amir & captured him.  The investigation agencies were reported to have gathered a lot of information from the sole terrorist captured.

Omble is survived by his wife & four daughters.  He is a real hero.  Let's salute him.