People surge to pay tributes to slain security personnel

MUMBAI/ BANGALORE: Thousands of people poured into streets to bid a tearful adieu to the bravehearts ATS chief Hemant Karkare and Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan who sacrificed their lives while taking on the militants in one of the bloodiest terror attacks in the country.
       
Slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' rent the air as the last journey of Karkare, who was among the 15 Mumbai police personnel killed in the 60-hour siege that began Wednesday night, started from his house in Shivaji Park Central Mumbai this morning.
      
Police personnel slow marched leading a huge procession with Karkare's picture on a flower-decked vehicle carrying his mortal remains that crawled through the Mumbai streets to reach Dadar crematorium where last rites were performed with state honours. His only son accompanied the body.
      
Throughout the route, people crowded the pavements and roofs and perched on trees to get his last glimpse.
       
When bullet spraying terrorists attacked 10 locations in Mumbai on November 26 night, Karkare donned his helmet and bullet-proof jacket to take them on but fell to close range firing from AK 47 by the ultras.
       
Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, his cabinet collegaues, MNS Sena chief Raj Thackeray, BJP's Nitin Gadkari and others leaders and top offfcials were also present.
       
In Bangalore, which is mourning the loss of NSG Major Unnikrishnan during the operations to flush out terrorists at Taj hotel, the scenes were no different.
       
The mortal remains of the 31-year-old, wrapped in the tricolour were laid before a framed photograph of the hero and people -- friends, leaders, colleagues, family and strangers, filed past with bent heads and folded hands.
      
Grief stricken family members, friends and others broke down as Unnikrishnan's inconsolable mother sat close to his body caressing her son, repeatedly touching his forehead.

Ordinary people lined up the street, crowded on roofs and balconies and at some places threw flowers at the vehicle carrying Unnikrishnan's body. People were seen stopping their cars and standing out to pay their respects.
      
Born on March 15, 1977 and the only son of retired ISRO officer K Unnikrishnan, he had joined the National Defence Academy and was Army in 1999.
      
He joined the NSG on deputation in January 2007 after having served two tenures with his battalion in counter insurgency and counter terrorism roles.
      
Body of another NSG commando Havaldar Gajendra Singh who was killed during the operations at the Jewish centre, Nariman House was brought to NSG headquarters in Delhi on the way to Dehra Dun where last rites will be performed.
      
In the absence of NSG Chief who is still in Mumbai overseeing the operations, floral wreaths were place on his behalf as well as Home Minister, Lt General of 10 Para battalion of Indian Army--his parent force.
      
Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev and M S Bitta also came to offer their tributes to the martyred soldier. The body was later flown to his native village Ganeshpur in Dehradun.
Karkare, a 1982 batch IPS officer, became the head of ATS in January this year following his return to the state cadre after serving seven years in Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in Austria. He is survived by his wife Amruta, two daughters Jui and Sayali and son Akash.
     
"Since last five months, he was continuously on his toes, chasing terrorists and digging several conspiracies hatched in different parts of the state and country. He did not take any off in the last three months," Nasir Kulkarni, his colleague said.
     
Unnikrishnan, a member of Special Operations Group of NSG, was in the thick of operation when one of his men was shot by terrorist.
       
After evacuating his fellow men, he chased the terrorists to another floor of the hotel amidst heavy fire exchange, continuously engaging them in battle.
       
In the process, he was isolated from the rest of his team and fell prey to the bullets of terrorists. Seriously injured in the battle, the valiant Major succumbed to injuries.