In a year’s time, Vaishali Omble has grown into a strong-willed woman. The 23-year-old daughter of 26/11 braveheart Tukaram Omble is determined to fulfil her father’s dream to set up a trust for underprivileged children.
Omble, who was very close to his children, had told his family that he wanted to live long after retirement so that he could work for poor youngsters. Vaishali told DNA that her family now plans to set up a trust to fulfil his dream.
“Initially, I was reluctant to accept a petrol pump from the government. But my father’s seniors heard of my reluctance and suggested that I use the money from the pump to set up a trust in my father’s name,” says Vaishali. “We want to help poor, orphaned children and also support the police force somehow. Right now I am discussing my plans with Papa’s friends.”
Vaishali says the last year has been tough for them. Omble was the centre of their universe and his violent death blew a big hole in their lives.
“My younger sister is still shaken and we have to handle her with a lot of care. She believes that God will send back to life all the policemen who died in the line of duty. We, too, sometimes feel that my father will come back to us,” says Vaishali softly.
It is a year since that terrible night but the Omble family is still wracked by doubts about the encounter at which Ajmal Kasab was nabbed. Vaishali is furious that others are now trying to take the credit for Kasab’s arrest.
“Papa was with a whole team at the spot where he grabbed Kasab. But how come only he took so many bullets?” asks an anguished Vaishali. “Recently I saw on news channels the story that some others were claiming the credit for Kasab’s arrest. Everyone knows the truth, so why these claims?”
The Ombles feel deeply the pain of the families of other martyred policemen. The government’s steps to equip the police force better, says Vaishali, comes too late for the bereaved families.
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