Last salute to Maj Sandeep UnniKrishnan

"When cities burn and armies turn and flee in disarray, cowards will cry: 'It's best to fly, and fight another day'. But warriors know in their marrow, When they die and fall, 'It's best to have fought and lost than not to have fought at all."

The biggest ever terror attack on India needed some brave hearts to fight it. When Indian history will be written post Nov 26, Major Sandeep Unikrishnan would definitely require a golden stylus.

Valour and heroics of Sandeep has ensured that when Indias generation next looks back, they wont have any shortages of inspiration

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, knew he would die unless help came, but he didn't want to risk the lives of others.

So, the 51 Special Group officer of the NSG told his mates not to try to reach the area where he was trapped.

He reached the injured soldier, not identified by the NSG, and escorted him to a safer area before heading back to the battle zone, where at least three terrorists were firing intermittently from AK-47s and hurling grenades at intervals.

Major Sandeep was killed on Thursday evening, when engaged in an the operation to clear terrorists holed up in the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai.

Born on March 15, 1977, joining the Services was a childhood dream for Sandeep. Even as a Class VIII student at the Frank Anthony Public School, his parents could sense the determination in the boy. He joined the 7th Bihar Regiment on June 12, 1999, where he underwent rigorous training in counter-insurgency operations. He joined the NSG on January 20, 2007, and became team commander of 51 SDG.

His passion for working in the defence forces took a toll on his personal life too. Sandeep had married his childhood friend and classmate Neha, but their relationship was strained.

Thirty-one-year-old Major Sandeep is the only son of retired ISRO officer K. Unnikrishnan, who is settled in Bangalore.

His father told presspersons: "I lost my son in Mumbai on Friday. Though I do not like to call him a martyr, I can proudly say that he has done something for this country."

OneIndia News