It was a sombre beginning to the Republic day celebrations today as Maharashtra Police ATS chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner Ashok Kamte and four others killed fighting Pakistani terrorists in Mumbai were among nine security personnel honoured with the Ashok Chakra today.
Mumbai Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar and Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Ombale, who had nabbed the surviving Mumbai attack terrorist, apart from NSG commandoes Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Havildar Gajender Singh were also honoured with the highest peace time gallantry medal posthumously for their acts of bravery during the November 26 strikes.
While the awards for Karkare, Salaskar and Ombale were received by their wives, a tearful mother of Unnikrishnan received the award.
Delhi police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who died fighting terrorists in the Batla House operation in the capital in September last year, was also conferred with the award posthumously.
Army Colonel Jojan Thomas, the Commanding Officer of 45 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Forces commando Havildar Bahadur Singh Bohra of 10 Parachute Regiment, who were killed in separate counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir, were also honoured with the medal by President Pratibha Patil.
Members of families of Orissa Armed Police Special Operation Group Assistant Commandant P K Satapathy and Meghalaya Police's R P Diengdoh, who were posthumously named for the medal on August 15 last year for fighting insurgents in their respective states, also received the award.
