14 January,2009 06:24 AM IST | | J Dey
List of Mumbai Terror attack heroes made by commissioner Hasan Gafoor may throw some surprises
In the absence of an independent committee to shed light on the role of policemen during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, dozens of heroes may find their names omitted from the list of those who are to be awarded gallantry medals.
Police sources revealed that ATS chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar's names do not feature in the list of 26/11 heroes submitted by Commissioner of Police Hasan Gafoor for gallantry awards like the Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and the President's medal (Gallantry).
While Kamte shot at and injured LeT terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Qasab, a bullet from Salaskar's gun pierced terrorist Abu Ismail's right thigh.
Commissioner of Police Hasan Gafoor was not available for comment.
There are other heroes as well like Additional Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh, who challenged the terrorists at Oberoi Towers, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sunil Temkar, who braved terrorist bullets to rescue Addl Commissioner Sadanand Date, who was seriously injured at the Cama hospital.
Worryingly, some of Omble's seniors are now claiming that they had tutored him on how to confront Qasab. Many policemen say forming a special committee for ascertaining who should get the awards should be set up.
