MUMBAI: Twelve Mumbai Police personnel who died in the 26/11 carnage are likely to be conferred with the Ashoka Chakra, the nation's highest
gallantry award. This include senior IPS officers Hemant Karkare and Ashok Kamte and anti-extortion cell inspector Vijay Salaskar.
Mumbai police commissioner Hasan Gafoor confirmed that 12 names had been sent to the Union home ministry but refused to disclose details. A final decision will be taken by a committee attached to the ministry of home affairs.
It is likely that four others who were killed in the terror attack — a police inspector with the Government Railway Police, a head constable with the Railway Protection Force, a constable from the State Reserve Police Force and a homeguard — are in the line for the Ashoka Chakra.
According to sources, there has been hectic lobbying over the past few weeks by some senior police officers keen to get a medal for 26/11. An additional commissioner of police attached to the Anti-Terrorism Squad and a zonal deputy police commissioner have managed to get recommendations for the President's Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG), the sources say.
The deputy commissioner has been claiming to be responsible for engaging the terrorists at The Taj till NSG commandos arrived. The additional commissioner, who claimed to be part of the team that was at The Oberoi, reportedly exchanged fire with the terrorists.
However, an IPS officer who fired at the terrorists has refused any award, saying that it was part of his duty and that his contribution didn't deserve a gallantry medal.
Additional commissioner of police (central region) Sadanand Date who was injured in a grenade attack while battling the terrorists at Cama Hospital will be conferred with PPMG. "Assistant police inspector Bhaskar Kadam who shot terrorist Mohammed Kasab's aide Ismail Khan at Girgaum, constable Arun Jadhav, attached to the anti-extortion cell and who was with Salaskar, are among others whose names have been forwarded for PPMG," an officer said.
More than 36 police personnel have been recommended for the next level of gallantry award, Police Medal for Gallantry. The sources said additional commissioner of police protection Vinay Koregaonkar and some policemen who took part in the Oberoi operation would be conferred with PMG. It is learnt that a list of 10 more names including those from the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad will be forwarded in the second list for PMG.
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