My husband's death is still a mystery, says Smita
Salaskar’s widow wonders how ultras could sneak in
Smita Salaskar, wife of slain encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar who fell victim to the bullets of terrorists on November 26 last year, is still not aware of what exactly occurred that dreadful night.
“While the events at Hotel Taj and Trident, Nariman House and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) were widely shown and spoken about, what exactly happened outside Cama hospital where my husband was killed is still a mystery to me,” Smita told reporters at a function here.
An emotional Smita has still not gathered the courage to go to the lane outside Cama hospital where her husband and two other senior police officers—ATS chief Hemant Karkare and additional commissioner of police Ashok Kamte—were killed by terrorists Abu Ismail and lone surviving gunman Ajmal Kasab.
“My husband left home saying there has been some firing at Leopold Cafe. At that time, I thought it would be just another gang war and he (Salaskar) would come back home late in the night,” Smita said.
When Smita saw on news channels that her husband was feared dead in the attack, she felt her whole life collapsing.
“I refused to accept the fact that my husband was no more with me and switched off the television and did not even read the newspaper the next morning,” she said.
Reality sank in for Smita when Salaskar’s body was brought home the next day afternoon.
Shameful lapse
Smita says it is shameful for the nation that ten young men armed with weapons and explosives entered the city without raising any suspicion.
“After the incident, Joint Commissioner of Police Rakesh Maria had come to see me and assured me that the whole country would be told about my husband’s good job and heroism but sadly nothing has been said by him until now,” Smita said.
Maria, who was also present at the function, said the role played by Salaskar and the other police officers has been mentioned in the report submitted the Central government on the basis of which Ashok Chakras were awarded to them.
“We cannot say anything now as the trial is on. Once the legal bindings are off, I would definitely speak,” Maria said.
Smita, Maria and the city commissioner of police (CP) D Sivanandan on Thursday launched a book written by TV journalist Jitendra Dixit on the 26/11 terror attacks.
