'We are proud of Ambadas Pawar'

Constable Ambadas Pawar, who was believed to have died during the indiscriminate firing at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus on November 26 terror strikes, had actually fought and succumbed to injuries in an exchange of fire with the terrorists.

This was revealed after the police found snapshots of Pawar, a constable attached with protection unit of Mumbai Police at Ballard Pier in south Mumbai, aiming at the  terrorists with a rifle in his hand. Till that time, the police thought that Pawar was one among those 50 commuters, who were killed by the terrorists when they opened firing indiscriminately at the CST.

As many as 50 commuters were shot dead by the two terrorists Ismail Khan and Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab who ran towards Cama hospital minutes after a strong retaliation by security forces at the railway station.

Assistant police inspector Sandeep Bhagwat of the Protection Unit, who is Pawar's immediate superior said, "Pawar, who was in civil dress and unarmed, was on his way to the protection unit office as he was on night duty. He got off the train at platform 1 when he heard firing sounds. He immediately rushed to platform 7, only after alerting the commuters and directing them towards the exits at the railway station," added Bhagwat.

Pawar then saw a Government Railway Police officer, who later identified as 57-year old Sudam Pandharkar, assistant sub-inspector, with serious injuries. "Pawar then took the rifle from the injured Pandharkar telling that he was a cop and opened fire at the terrorists. Ajmal, one of the two terrorists, then aimed at Pawar and shot him on his head," Bhagwat added.

Appreciating his bravery, Bhagwat said, "This reflects how dedicated Mumbai Police are. Pawar was unarmed and jumped into the battleground without thinking for a moment. We are proud of him."

The process of handing over the compensation to Pawar family had already begun after watching the snapshots of Pawar at CST. Pawar, who was a resident of Sion in central Mumbai, was earlier with Army and had quit the force after he met with an accident. Pawar was to finance his younger brother's wedding, which was scheduled on December 4 in Satara.