Quick Reads
- Tukaram Gopal Omble (b. 1954) was a former Army signalman turned Mumbai Police ASI.
- On the night of 26–27 November 2008S he tackled Ajmal Kasab at Girgaum Chowpatty, holding on despite being shot.
- Omble’s action prevented Kasab’s immediate death and secured the only live terrorist taken during the attacks—critical to the investigation.
- He died at the scene and was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra on 26 January 2009
Courage in a single moment that changed the course of the 26/11 investigation.
On the night of 26 November 2008, Mumbai faced a coordinated terror assault that stretched over multiple locations. At Girgaum Chowpatty, Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Gopal Omble confronted one of the attackers, Ajmal Kasab. Armed only with a lathi (bamboo staff), Omble forced open the terrorist’s car door and clung to Kasab even after being shot repeatedly. His grip and sacrifice kept Kasab from escaping or being immediately killed, allowing other officers to secure him alive. That live capture became the single most important breakthrough in piecing together the attack’s planners, routes and training.
Who he was
Tukaram Omble was born in 1954 in Maharashtra and had earlier served in the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals before joining the Mumbai Police. His military training and calm under fire were repeatedly noted in contemporaneous accounts of the operation. Omble succumbed to his wounds at the scene; his courage is remembered across police and public records.
Why it mattered
Most of the attackers died in the operation; capturing Kasab alive was rare and crucial. Interrogation of the surviving terrorist yielded evidence of the network behind the attacks, routes used, and command-and-control links—information that shaped prosecutions and international investigations. Omble’s act directly contributed to that outcome.
Legacy
The Government of India honoured Omble posthumously with the Ashoka Chakra, the country’s highest peacetime gallantry award. Memorials, articles and public tributes continue to recall his sacrifice each anniversary, framing him as an example of duty and selflessness.
