AM Subinesh ~ PV Maneesh ~ the Real Heroes - Nation Salutes Them !

The horrific memories of that night of 26/11 when the terrorists hijacked the police vehicle  and killed top cops and then went on shooting innocents haunts people. Nation needs to keep away from worthless debates – those on silver screen are not the heroes – they are just entertainers, if at all you like movies – no other importance they deserve !! Comics are an integral part of every child’s growth – in our days we had the Ambulimama (chandamama) / Amar chitra katha.  Today’s kid are obsessed with Jetix of Walt Disney.  The children of the Nation must be reading about those who fought for our Nation, those freedom fighters who underwent untold harships and those illustrious   Bhaskar Kadam, Hemant Bawdhankar, Sanjay Govilkar, Tukaram Omble,  Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte ,  Vijay Salaskar, Shashank Shinde, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Hawaldar Gajendra Singh – and the like who fought valiantly during that Mumbai siege.  There were so many unsung heroes too – for example the Fire Service of Mumbai whose personnel did not flinch once as they grabbed their gear and rushed to douse fire amid an intense gun battle. 1977  born Sandeep Unnikrishnan, rose to become a Major in the Indian Army serving in the elite Special Action Group of the National Security Guards (NSG) and  gave his life fighting  terrorists in the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. His bravery was honoured with the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peace time gallantry award, on 26 January 2009. “Do not come up, I will handle them”, were the last words which Major Unnikrishnan told his men as he was hit by bullets while engaging terrorists inside the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower during Operation Black Tornado, according to NSG officials. It would remain the carnage, the coordinated shooting not only killing 173 Indians but causing irreparable damage to  the Indian economy and psyche in its trail. The investigations revealed that the attackers had travelled by sea from Karachi, Pakistan across the Arabian Sea, hijacked the Indian fishing trawler 'Kuber', killing the crew, and then entered Mumbai on a rubber dinghy. Due to the sacrifice of Omble, a terrorist was captured alive, but for which many would have floated different theories and versions of the incident.  There were many heroes who sacrified their life. This week, the  body of Sepoy A.M. Subinesh, who was killed during an encounter between the Indian Army and Pak-trained militants along the Line of Control in Nowshera sector in Jammu and Kashmir was cremated on the premises of his residence at Cheliya in the district with State honours and 18 gun shots by the Calicut Military Station.  Subinesh, 26, was a native of Cheliya at Chengottukkavu in Kozhikode district.  Indian Army personnel led by Calicut Military Station Officer Colonel P. Mohandas and the Kannur Territorial Army battalion received the body near the West Hill Barracks where a guard of honour was held in the morning. The body was then taken in a funeral procession in an open army vehicle. It was then kept in makeshift pandal at Muthu Bazaar for the public to pay homage. Hundreds of people from all walks of life paid their last respects to the soldier who laid down his life battling militants. Subinesh was fired by terrorists close to the Line of Control in the forward areas of Nowshera sector on Monday. He was seriously injured in the fire-fight and died while being evacuated to military hospital. Subinesh had joined the army eight years ago. He was to reach home on December 5 for his marriage. It was fixed on December 20. Three months ago he had left for Kashmir after a leave. ~ ~ and among those who paid homage to the martyr was another real hero. P V Maneesh is a perfect emblem of courage. Not just because he was a NSG commando, not just because he took part in the operation against terrorists at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai during the horrid hours of 26/11. More  because he showed courage to walk back to life from a debilitating head injury which he suffered during that operation. If he is not a hero, then hardly anyone is qualified to be one. And there is another trait that heroes share — camaraderie. Maneesh showed it in full measure when he visited the house of A M Subinesh, who was killed while fighting against terrorists in Kashmir. But Maneesh and Subinesh had shared a much deeper bond. Subinesh used to call him regularly, checking on his health and was a genuine well-wisher. His presence through words was a massive encouragement for Maneesh, had been paralysed after injuries that he suffered from a grenade blast. He  recalled the action days in Mumbai and his subsequent struggles while touching base with Express. Though the thought of people forgetting the contributions of soliders mildly irked him, Maneesh was quick to put it behind. “People may remember me for the action undertaken during the Mumbai terror attack, as it got its due attention from media. But there are many unsung heroes in all the defence forces, who may not have to sacrifice their life but continue to serve their country under difficult conditions,” he said.  Recalling the Mumbai episode, he said, “We received the call when we were in Delhi. Trained for such situations, we quickly geared up for the action and entered the hotel where the terrorists were camping. Just as the team killed a terrorist, a grenade exploded in front of us and the sharpnel hit my skull and I fainted.” Maneesh was in coma for a year and when he returned to consciousness he was paralysed. Several rounds of treatment followed. His determination helped him stage a comeback. But Maneesh still gets fits and needs others’ help occasionally. “Had it not been for my family and friends, I would not have recovered this fast,” he said. He is now attached to the 122 Territorial army. Let’s raise a toast for a true hero then! ~ dear Maneeshji, Nation for sure loves and respects you and your ilk.  Great people you are !!! With regards – S. Sampathkumar
PS : the last part in blue reproduced from The New Indian Express  of date.