Army needs more Unnikrishnans: Father

Mumbai: Nine years after Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan (31) lost his life while battling the Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists during the 26/11 attack on Mumbai in 2008, his parents said they would like more army majors like their son, who can make the ultimate sacrifice for the country while fighting terror.

Speaking at a commemorative event organised by the NGO, Forum Awareness of National Security (FANS) on Sunday in the city, his father, Mr K. Unnikrishnan said, “I am known by my son’s supreme sacrifice and not as a retired ISRO officer. I have taken a vow to create more majors like my son and will spread the word from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.”

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who led a National Security Guard (NSG) commandos operation to flush out LeT terrorists from Hotel Taj in south Mumbai, was conferred an Ashoka Chakra posthumously for his sacrifice. He had led his team of commandos to the sixth floor of the hotel and rescued 14 hostages.  Sandeep’s father is still in touch with the last hostage his son had saved.

“To eradicate terrorism, for which my son paid the price with his life, I am making more youngsters aware of the false promises made by a few people with a terrorist-mentality, who are into radicalisation of the youth on the basis of religion to destroy the peace of the country,” he added.

The last message of the brave heart to his personnel while carrying out the operation was “Don’t come up, I will handle them.” His words have left a deep impression on his troop commandos. “He had promised me that come what may, I will never make any one suffer for their life, said his mother Mrs Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan. Wiping her tears, she added, “Sandeep was our only son and he kept his word that he will not let anything happen to his motherland and his fellow colleagues.”