5:10pm Thursday 5th November 2009
The unarmed policeman who took on a gunman during the Mumbai terror attacks did not want any of his children to join the police force, it has emerged.
Tukaram Omble died as he helped arrest Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the only surviving terror suspect from the attacks, by shielding his colleagues from the gunman’s firing.
His third daughter Vaishali Omble, 25, said: “Neither me nor any of my three sisters will join the police force, respecting our father’s wish.
“He did not want us to join the police. He had his own reasons, all he wished for us was to be happy.”
She is planning to start teaching so she can help look after the family with the help of her younger sister Bharati Omble who has been offered a government job as part of the state government’s compensation.
Just after midnight on November 27 last year, Mr Omble, 48, was alerted that two terrorists had hijacked a car and were heading his way.
He followed on his motorcycle, raced ahead of the car - which was forced to slow down due to police barricades - and stopped in front of it.
As the car swerved to avoid him hitting the road divider, Mr Omble ran towards one of the gunmen, identified later as Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, and held on to the barrel of his AK-47 with both hands.
Kasab shot him repeatedly, but the policeman held on until he lost consciousness, shielding his colleagues so they could kill the other terrorist.
He died later in hospital and in January this year the Indian government honoured him with the military decoration of an Ashoka Chakra for his valour, courageous action and self-sacrifice.
By Vikas Pandey
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