Hemant Karkare: Remembering 26/11 hero who put others’ security over his own

Hemant Karkare, the former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief was killed at the hands of the terrorists who went on a rampage in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. Karkare, along with police officers Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar were killed when terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail opened fire at their police van outside Cama Hospital in south Mumbai, on the night of 26/11.

The mayhem unleashed by the terrorists from neighbouring Pakistan led to the killing of at least 174 people.

Karkare was one of the most high-profile police victims of 26/11 and his killing sent shockwaves throughout the nation.

Also read: 26/11: A timeline of terror attacks that wreaked havoc in Mumbai

Who was ATS chief Hemant Karkare?

Born in 1954 in Madhya Pradesh, Karkare did his schooling from Wardha, Maharashtra. A mechanical engineer, he made it to the prestigious Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1982.

His long career included his stint at the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the Indian mission in Vienna, Austria.

In 1991, he was posted as Superintendent of Police (SP) in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur, a Naxal-hit district. He also served in the Mumbai crime branch and anti-narcotics department.

Before assuming his role as the ATS chief, he worked as Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration) in the Mumbai Police.

What happened on the night of 26/11?

Karkare was at his Dadar residence when he was informed about the attack. With some of his men, he rushed to Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), according to The Indian Express. 

Then, he learned that the terrorists had fled towards a narrow lane that led to the Cama Hospital.

He donned his bulletproof jacket and helmet and rushed towards the spot. There, he along with Kamte and Salaskar were killed.

Malegaon blast and MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur

11 years post his death, the former ATS chief hit headlines last year over the comments by the then BJP candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, who is now the MP for Bhopal.

Thakur was one of the 11 accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast, in which six people were killed and 101 were injured. As the ATS chief, Karkare was probing the case.

During her campaign, Thakur said Karkare was gunned down by terrorists as she “cursed” him. The IPS Association condemned the remark and BJP distanced itself from it, stating that the comment was “personal”.

On 26/11 anniversary last year, Karkare’s daughter Jui published a memoir ‘Hemant Karkare: A Daughter’s Memoir”.