‘Tahawwur Rana Should Be Hanged Publicly’: Brother of 26/11 Hero Cop Tukaram Omble
As 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana prepares to face trial in India following his extradition from the United States, emotions are running high among the families of those who lost their lives in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The brother of slain police officer Tukaram Omble has demanded the “strictest punishment” for Rana, including a public execution.
Eknath Omble, whose brother ASI Tukaram Omble was killed while helping capture terrorist Ajmal Kasab alive, said, “The terrorists should be hanged publicly. The punishment should be a message to all terrorists if they even think about attacking India.”
Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian national, is accused of aiding co-conspirator David Headley in planning the Mumbai attacks. He was extradited to India under tight security and is expected to be interrogated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a high-security facility in Delhi.
The 2008 attacks, carried out by ten Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives, left 166 people dead and more than 300 injured. The terrorists targeted iconic locations in Mumbai, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, and Nariman House, unleashing terror over a span of three days.
Among the brave responders that night was ASI Tukaram Omble, whose courage became a defining moment in India’s fight against terrorism. When terrorists Kasab and Ismail Khan tried to flee in a hijacked car, they were intercepted at a checkpoint at Girgaum Chowpatty.
Despite being unarmed and only carrying a baton, Omble charged toward Kasab, grabbed the barrel of his rifle, and held on even as he was riddled with bullets. His brave act enabled fellow officers to overpower and arrest Kasab—the only attacker captured alive.
Kasab’s arrest provided investigators with critical information about the planning, execution, and foreign backing of the attack. The revelations eventually led to wider international pressure on Pakistan-based terror networks.
Tukaram Omble was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry honour, for his extraordinary bravery and self-sacrifice.
Speaking to reporters, Eknath Omble expressed frustration at the long delay in bringing key conspirators like Rana to justice. “They should have been punished sooner. Justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.
Rana’s extradition marks a significant milestone in India’s pursuit of justice. Authorities are now expected to move swiftly with the trial, as families of the victims await long-overdue accountability.
With the trial looming, public sentiment remains intense. Many hope that the proceedings will not only deliver justice but also send a strong message to those who threaten India’s security.
