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Mumbai: It was with just a lathi (cane) that Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Gopal Omble and over a dozen policemen of D.B. Marg police station rushed towards the terrorist - the only one caught alive - on Marine Drive in the wee hours of last Thursday, a few hours after Mumbai faced a terror attack.
"Omble was the one who took the full brunt of the firing from the terrorist, Ajmal Ameer Kasab, who got out of the vehicle, raised his hands and lay down on the road as if he was surrendering to us though all of us knew it was a drama," Police Sub-Inspector Bhaskar Kadam told Gulf News.
It was then that along with others, Omble rushed and pounced headlong to overpower the gunman but at that very moment he started shooting from his AK-47 rifle over his shoulder. Omble received six bullet wounds that claimed his life.
Today, only a garlanded photo of Omble is left and a small lamp lit and kept near the entrance of D.B. Marg police station in the densely crowded Grant Road area for visitors to pay their respects.
"Martyr Omble was a gentleman policeman who cared little about his life when on duty. He leaves behind his wife and four daughters, two of them married. No one must forget his sacrifice to the nation," says Kadam grimly.
The entire team's prompt action has provided that crucial piece of evidence to the police whose interrogation of Kasab has yielded some incredible information. What is surprising is that of the nearly 20 policemen, only four were armed with two pistols and two SLRs or self-loading rifles. This, despite the fact that the terrorists were spraying bullets as they moved around.
Duty
But the call of duty did not deter them. As soon as the police station started getting messages at around 12.30am from the Mumbai Police Control Room on the firing in various spots, the D.B. Marg team took position in Marine Drive which comes under their jurisdiction.
"We were alert and ready as we took position here after putting up barricades," said Assistant Police Inspector Hemant Bowdankar.
After instructing the public to move out of the area, they spotted a Skoda trying to cross the road divider and shouted to the driver to stop. The car did stop some 50 feet away, put on the headlights in full beam and sprayed water on the windshield to hide their faces.
It was just then that a two-pronged attack was launched - Omble and others going towards the left side of the car and Kadam and Bowdankar towards the driver's seat on the right.
"The driver, looking handsome and about 25 years old was holding the steering with his right hand and firing at us from his left hand. We fired back, hitting him in the head, chest and shoulder," says Kadam.
At the same time, Kasab was subdued, and his weapons removed as the policemen thrashed him with their lathis. The terrorist, however, managed to kill Omble and injure Assistant Police Inspector Sanjay Gowilkar.
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