Hail the valour of Naik Velu Satish - the hero of 26/11 attack

This particular article which appeared in ‘The New Indian Express’ written by Mr M. Anantha Krishnan is worthy of reading and reproducing, and circulating to all known persons – for it is on ‘the hero of 26/11 attacks – Naik Velu Satish – Kirti Chakra Winner’

It was an incident when Indians criticised their political leaders after the attacks, saying that their ineptness was partly responsible. The Times of India commented on its front page that "Our politicians fiddle as innocents die."  Political reactions in Mumbai and India included a range of resignations and political changes, - the attacks also triggered a chain of citizens' movements across India; there were vigils held across all of India with candles and placards commemorating the victims of the attacks. 

It was the carnage of innocents – the  2008 Mumbai attacks [simply 26/11 – Indian hour of shame] were 11 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, by terrorists who came from Pakistan.Ajmal Kasab  who was captured alive, later claimed upon interrogation that the attacks were conducted with the support of Pakistan's ISI.  The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on Wednesday, 26 November and lasted until Saturday, 29 November 2008, killing 164 people and wounding at least 308.  The heroic efforts of Police, Military and NSG ensured that things were brought under control.   On 29 November, India's National Security Guards (NSG) conducted Operation Black Tornado to flush out the remaining attackers; it resulted in the death of the last remaining attackers at the Taj hotel and ending all fighting in the attacks.

While Ajmal Kasab still lives making the Indian Government expend crores of rupees to keep him alive, not all the heroes were honoured appropriately.  Some of them were indeed decorated with military decoration.  Kirti Chakra is one,  an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra. It is second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards; it comes after Ashoka Chakra and before Shaurya Chakra.  By any yardstick the amounts that go alongwith the award pale in comparison with the other monetary expenditure.  Time Government raises these to more than reasonable amounts which would be a real honour to those who dared to sacrifice. 

Here is a reproduction of the article that appeared in the New Indian Express :  By Anantha Krishnan M  -  Express News Service

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

Bangalore: “My wife was screaming and couldn't control her pain. She was almost 10-month pregnant. She was holding on to me , when the message came. When I was speaking she had drifted to sleep. It was probably the toughest moment in my life. I did not wake her up. I had to leave her alone. But then she knew what my job was,” Naik Velu Satish, the 34-year-old braveheart from the ranks of Indian Army's MEG & Centre (12 Engineer Regiment), spoke toExpress in a mix of Tamil and broken English.

“Bombay Operation Pathi Ethuvum Kekkadeenga (Don't ask anything about the Bombay Operation),” Satish, the 26/11 hero who was part of Op Black Tornado in Mumbai's Nariman House, set the rules straight, when he was cleared for a conditional interaction with Express in Bangalore. Satish, a Keerthi Chakra recipient, was honoured during a Passing out Parade at MEG recently. His family could resemble a mini-battalion, with two of his brothers already in Army, with his late father too serving the nation.

At Nariman House on November 28 (2008), Satish was part of small team from the 51 Special Action Group (SAG) of National Security Guard (NSG), who that took control of the 4th Floor. According to the Defence Investiture Ceremony (2009) citation records, it was Satish's utter disregard for his personal safety that helped locate the terrorists under fierce firing. He helped his Team Commander in creating an entry through the wall by planting improvised explosives.  Immediately after the wall blasted, Satish jumped inside the room and killed a terrorist from close range. He lost one of his buddies in the operation (Hawildar Jittender Singh), but Satish's stunning courage under fire made all the difference,” Army sources said, referring to records.

Back in Delhi after the successful operation, Satish rushed his wife Sumitha to the hospital only to get a mouthful from the doctors as she was already in a very-advanced stage of pregnancy. “I am thankful to God for giving me twin-sons. I strongly believe my buddies (Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Havildar Jittender Singh) are reborn in the form of my kids (Dinakar & Diwakar). I am hoping to get a posting to NSG again,” says Satish.  While his mother Savithri leads the proud soldier-sons at home, she is not happy at heart. “I am supposed to be a Veer Thai (Brave Mother) with three of my sons in the Army. In Tamil Nadu, if a mother sends more than two of her sons to Army, she is eligible for many benefits and I haven't got anything. After Satish got the Keerthi Chakra, we received two cheques (Rs 75,000 and Rs 12,000) from TN government, but no land. Even the Karnataka government didn't congratulate him despite Satish belonging to MEG,” Savithri told this newspaper over phone from Unai Mottur village (Anaicut), in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.  None of his villagers, neighbours and teachers at Higher Secondary School in Anaicut know that it was their boy who did the brave deed in Mumbai.

HIS WISH: A photo with Arjun, 5 min with Sachin!

At the NSG HQ in Manesar, Satish had once interacted with cricketers Sachin, Dhoni and Harbhajan soon after Op Black Tornado. “I am waiting for Sachin to score his 100th Century. I am hoping to have five minutes with him to show him my Keerthi Chakra Medal. Sachin had told me that he was very proud of our achievements. I am a great fan of Tamil actor Arjun who is widely known as Action King. His films Muthalvan and Gentleman are my favourites. I hope to meet him once only to get a photograph clicked along with him,”says Satish with a child-like smile. And for the record, this braveheart can prepare spicy chicken curry in just under 25 minutes!

News reproduced in its entirety : Copyright@The New Indian Express

 

http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/%E2%80%98my-twin-sons-are-buddies-reborn%E2%80%99/372408.html

the photo of the hero from the blog spot : tarmak007.blogspot.in.

http://tarmak007.blogspot.in/2012/03/2611-hero-says-his-twin-sons-are.html