Injured Kasab killed constable Ombale

Mumbai Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria on riday sought to put to rest all speculations pertaining to the incidents on November 26 night when three top police officials and a constable were killed during the operation to nab Mohammed Ajmal Amir Iman Kasab, one of the ten terrorists who struck the metropolis.

Clearing the air on why all three top officials -- Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ashok Kamte and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar who succumbed to bullet injuries -- were sitting in one vehicle, Maria said: "Given the circumstances they sat together in the police vehicle, which was available to them."

"There was an unnecessary controversy over why the three sat in one vehicle. They reached the Cama Hospital where terrorists had hidden. The three planned to storm into the hospital," he added.

"When Ashok Kamte opened fire, Kasab who was hiding, sustained bullet injuries on both his hands.

After the three officers sustained injuries, Kasab and Ismail got into the police vehicle. Kasab was not in a position to operate the gun. Ismail then drove the vehicle and fired indiscriminately while driving the vehicle on the city streets," the officer added.

"Constable Ombale jumped on the Skoda that had developed a flat tyre at Girgaun Chowpatty. The two terrorists (Kasab and his associate Ismail Khan) were inside the vehicle," he said, adding, "Ombale first caught Kasab. However, an already injured Kasab managed to fire with his thumb and five bullets went off. Ombale sustained severe injuries there."