The name of Tukaram Omble is a glittering start in the galaxy of Indian Bravehearts. His heroic act of incapacitating the terrorist leading to latter’s arrest during Mumbai attack in 2008 not only exposed Pakistani hand in the attack but also debunked the planned conspiracy to blame Hindu extremists for this attack. With his heroic act, this worthy son of Bharat Mata not only served the nation but also saved the Hindu society from the stigma of being terrorist.
Born in 1954, he served in Signal Corp of Indian Army. Post retirement from military service he joined Mumbai Police and eventually became ASI there. On fateful day of Mumbai attack on 26th November 2008, he was deputed on a checkpoint on a road near Girgaum Chowpatty where two terrorists approached on a highjacked vehicle. He had already received a wireless alert that two armed terrorists are heading in his direction on a highjacked Skoda Sedan after killing many people at Mumbai CST station. In the car there were two Muslim terrorists Ismael who was driving the car and Ajmal Kasab on passenger side. When the car reached at this check point it stopped for a while then again moved towards barricading while firing from inside. The driver terrorist Ismael was killed in exchange fire and Ajmal Kasab exited the car feigning surrender and then started firing again. But, before he could target anyone, unarmed Tukaram Omble jumped at him and firmly held the barrel of Kasab’s rifle keeping it low. That saved the police team from the bullets of Kasab’s rifle, but Tukaram Omble received several bullets. Yet, the courageous Tukaram Omble did not loose his grip on the barrel of the rifle. This gave the opportunity to his police team to incapacitate the Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab and arrested him alive. The patriotic and courageous Tukaram Omble succumbed to the bullet injuries on the spot.
Arrest of Ajmal Kasab was a prize catch for India as it helped in establishing Pakistani link of this terror attack. There was also a political conspiracy to blame this terror attack to Hindus with anticipation that no terrorist would be captured alive. But, the bravery of Tukaram Omble exposed the political conspiracy after investigation and saved Hinduism from the stigma of terrorism.
