The name ‘Sandeep Unnikrishnan’ is itself enough for everyone out there to recognise this brave heart who laid down his life in the line of duty. This soldier was not just an army officer but a valiant fighter too. On 27th November 2008 the 51 SAG of NSG were deployed in the Taj hotel during the 26/11 attacks with Zero Intel and zero layout details completely handicapped! But still the commandos managed to flush out all the Terrorists under the leadership of Major Sandip Unnikrishnan who lost his life in the line of duty and reinstating peace in the financial capital of India.
Sandeep Unnikrishnan Continues To Be An Inspiration For Many Youngsters
The then Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, Army Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Mumbai’s Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte, Senior Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Tukaram Omble were among those killed in the attack.
31-year-old NSG Commando Major Unnikrishnan was at the forefront of the fight till November 28, before he laid down his life. The last message from Sandeep Unnikrishnan while carrying out the operation to eliminate terrorists was: “Don’t come up, I will handle them.” In Bengaluru, where his family lives, the presence of Major Unnikrishnan is very much felt even now. The second floor of the residence of Unnikrishnan had been converted as a little museum where all army belongings, including his uniform, were kept.
Early Life Of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan
The family, originally from Kerala had moved to Bengaluru, where Sandeep, the parents’ only child grew up. He joined the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, in 1995 and was a part of the Oscar Squadron and a graduate of the 94th Course NDA. After graduating from the IMA, Dehradun, he was commissioned as Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment in 1999.
In 2007, he was assigned as the training officer of the 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG) of NSG. Following the 26/11 terror attack, Major Sandeep along with a group of 10 commandos was tasked to rescue the hostages held by the terrorists inside the Taj Hotel. “Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan led the commando operation launched on 27th November 2008 to flush out terrorists from Hotel Taj Mahal, Mumbai in which he rescued 14 hostages.
Maj Sandeep Was Shot In His Right Hand But Fought Till His Last Breath
During the operation, his team came under intense hostile fire, in which one of his team members got grievously injured. Major Sandeep pinned down the terrorists with accurate fire and rescued the injured commando to safety. In the process, he was shot in his right arm. Despite his injuries, he continued to fight the terrorists till his last breath.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan displayed most conspicuous bravery besides camaraderie and leadership of the highest order and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation,” the citation of the Ashok Chakra, the country’s highest peace time gallantry award, conferred to Major Sandeep on January 26, 2009 reads.
Source : The freepress Journal
