Hemant Karkare: ATS Chief And 26/11 Hero

One of the best cops to have ever graced the Indian police fleet, chief of Anti Terrorism Squad Hemant Karkare was a real life hero who laid his life down during one of the most gruesome attacks to take place on Indian soil. An honourable and extremely talented police offer, Karkare was martyred during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks during which he gave it his all to protect the nation against terrorists. A leader who believed in zero-tolerance towards crime, Karkare was not only fearless but equally bestowed with tactical nuance and sensational gun handling skills which made him one of the best in the business.

• Born into a poor family in Nagpur, Karkare was brilliant from a young age and took an avid interest in reading and learning. He was the eldest sibling and his father worked in the Indian Railways.

• After graduation, he worked for National productivity council, Government of India and then Hindustan Lever Limited now Hindustan Unilever Ltd before joining the Indian Police Service in 1982.

• Was Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration) of Mumbai Police after serving seven years in Austria in the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s external intelligence agency.

• He was an IPS officer and the chief of the Maharashtra unit of the Anti Terrorism Squad and is remembered for being an extremely modest man.

• Was involved in the probe of the serial bomb blasts which took place in Thane, Vashi and Panvel .Karkare had been credited for solving the serial bomb blasts in Thane, Vashi and Panvel.

• Led the investigation of the 29th September blast in Malegaon. He was the leader of a brilliant team that used forensic evidence and painstaking efforts to identify the new face of terrorism in India.

• Answered his call to duty during the 26/11 attacks when he was having dinner. Lost his life in a narrow lane between St. Xavier’s College and RanG Bhavan while making an attempt to stop terrorist Ajmal Kasab after being hit by three bullets in the chest.

• Was honoured with the Ashok Chakra on 26th January 2009.

• Is survived by his wife Kavita, two daughters Jui and Sayali and his son Akash.

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