26/11 terror attack survivor constable resumes duty

Jadhav, 41, the lone surviving member of the ill-fated police jeep that was sprayed with bullets by LeT terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab killing then ATS chief Hemant Karkare, encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar and additional commissioner of police Ashok Kamte and three others, said he joined the service back for "mental solace".

"Sitting back at home, makes me relive the horrendous memories. I will miss my mentor (Salaskar) but the show must go on," Jadhav, who has been in the police services for the last 22 years said soon after resuming duty on Tuesday.

Jadhav, who has spent 13 years working under Salaskar said that "after attacking our jeep, the two terrorists came to our vehicle and threw out bodies of Karkare, Salaskar and Kamte on the road.

Thinking that we (constables) were also dead, the terrorists got into the jeep and drove away."
He said he escaped death by laying calm and motionless making the terrorists believe that he was dead.

Jadhav, who will soon be called to depose as a witness in the trial against Kasab and others, said they were on their way back to Cama hospital from CST station to check on another injured officer Sadanand Date when the terrorists fired suddenly.

"On the way, we saw two persons emerge from behind a tree carrying AK-47 rifles and firing indiscriminately at our jeep. All officers were killed on the spot," Jadhav said in a choked voice.

Jadhav, who now looks forward to working with his colleagues again, says the only regret he has is he could not do anything to save Salaskar's life.