Maha cop, NSG commandos receive medals for 26/11

Maharastra Police Inspector Shashank Chandrasen Shinde and National Security Guard (NSG) commando Sapper V Sathish, who fought terrorists during the dastardly Mumbai attacks last November, were among eight security personnel awarded the Kirti Chakra, the second highest peace-time gallantry medal on Thursday.

Two other NSG commandos captain Amitendra Kumar Singh of the Artillery Regiment and Naik PV Manesh from the Madras Regiment, who were part of the Mumbai counter-terrorism operations, were among the 25 awarded Shaurya Chakra for valour by president Pratibha Patil at an investiture ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan here.

Shinde, who was conferred the medal posthumously for conspicuous gallantry, was at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station in Mumbai on November 26 when 10 heavily armed terrorists launched simultaneous attacks at various iconic places in the metropolis.

He was engaged in an encounter with one of the terrorists at the CST and was hit by a volley of bullets during the gunbattle. Sathish was part of the NSG team, which carries out intervention operation outside Nariman House in Mumbai.

He showed his valour when he provoked a terrorist to give out his location by exposing himself to fierce firing. That act led his team commander to ascertain the terrorist's
presence and later plan an attack.