26/11 bravehearts: 15 cops to get an extra increment

Ahmed Ali / TNN / Updated: Mar 24, 2022, 09:24 IST

MUMBAI: Fourteen years after the 26/11 attacks, the state government on Tuesday decided to provide an extra increment beginning 2008 for 15 cops who displayed courage and caught two Pakistani terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail at Girgaum Chowpatty. A government resolution has been issued to this effect. 
Kasab and Ismail, two of the ten terrorists, after killing four senior police officers near Cama Hospital, were headed towards Girgaum Chowpatty, when the police team of these 15 policemen of D B Marg police station intercepted them at Chowpatty and caught Kasab alive. Assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Omble died in the return fire. 
As per the decision taken in the cabinet meeting held in 2008, special assistance was sanctioned to the families of police officers/staff who were martyred in the 26/11 terror attacks. 
Also, other officers/staff who have shown bravery in the 26/11 attacks have been honoured with special prizes and cash prizes such as the President's Police Bravery Medal, Director General of Police Medal of Honour and Medal of Merit. But decision was taken in this regard regarding service matters of the serving police officers who had displayed their bravery. Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Prabhu had raised the matter in the assembly. 
The 15 policemen who will benefit are inspectors Sanjay Gowilkar, Shivaji Kole, Bhaskar Kadam, Hemant Bhavdhankar, constables Santosh Chedvankar, Sanjay Patil, Sarjerao Pawar, Chandrakant Chavan, Vijay Awhad, Amol Shelke, Vikram Nikam, Sunil Sohni, Chandrakant Kamble and Ramesh Mane. Out of these, 5-6 have already retired. "We are happy that at least our efforts are being honoured," said one of the policemen.