Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was an Indian Army officer who was killed in the Mumbai terrorist attacks on November 26, 2011. He was leading a team of NSG commandos tasked with rescuing hostages from the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai.
Wiki/Biography
Sandeep Unnikrishnan was born on Tuesday, March 15, 1977 (aged 31 at the time of his death) in Kozhikode, Kerala, India. His star sign is Pisces. Sandeep completed his schooling from Frank Anthony Public School, Bangalore in 1992. Sandeep then joined the National Defense Academy in 1995 and graduated as a Lieutenant. Sandeep was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 7th Battalion (Infantry) of the Bihar Regiment on 12 June 1999.
appearance
Height (approximate): 5’10
Eye color: Black
Hair color: Black
Family and caste
Sandeep Unnikrishnan belongs to a Malayali family from Kozhikode, Kerala.
parents
Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s father’s name is K. Unnikrishnan. He is a retired Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) officer. His mother’s name is Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan.
Sandeep’s parents K Unnikrishnan (father) and Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan (mother)
wife
Sandeep Unnikrishnan was married to Neha Unnikrishnan at the time of his death.
Sandeep Unnikrishnan and his wife Neha Unnikrishnan
Military career
After graduating as a Lieutenant, Sandeep Unnikrishnan was commissioned into the 7th Battalion (Infantry) of the Bihar Regiment in June 1999 and was sent to the Kargil War of 1999. The team led by Sandeep faced heavy artillery and small arms fire from the Pakistan Army. In December 1999, when the enemy base was attacked, Sandeep managed to set up a post just 200 meters away from the enemy base. On 12 June 2003, Sandeep was promoted to Captain and to Major on 12 June 2005. Sandeep topped the “Ghatak Course”, which is considered one of the toughest courses of the Indian Army and he was awarded the grade of “Instructor” and commendation in 2006. Sandeep Unnikrishnan decided to join the National Security Guard (NSG) and after completing the arduous training, Sandeep joined 51 SAG NSG on 20 January 2007.
Mumbai November 26 attacks
On November 26, 2008, several iconic buildings in Mumbai like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Nariman Mansion, etc. were attacked by ten terrorists from the extremist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Sandeep Unnikrishnan was asked to report to Mumbai on November 27, 2008. Sandeep led a team of NSG commandos with the task of rescuing all hostages from Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and clearing the area for further procedures. Sandeep and his team were searching for the hostages during the rescue operation when one of Sandeep’s colleagues, Sunil Kumar Yadav, was shot in both legs and the terrorists opened fire on him. After Sunil Kumar Yadav was safely evacuated, Sandeep decided to pursue the terrorists alone while his team evacuated the hostages. In the exchange of fire, one terrorist was shot and Sandeep followed the blood trail to another floor of the hotel. After entering the floor, Sandeep was caught off guard and shot in the back. When the rescue team reached the floor, Sandeep had already died due to injuries and gunshot wounds. According to NSG officials, his last words were –
Don’t come up, I’ll deal with them.”
Fire and smoke billow from the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel after the November 26 attack
Ashoka Chakra
Sandeep Unnikrishnan was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Shindee by Indian President Pratibha Patil to his mother Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan on 26 January 2009. The official citation for the Ashoka Shindee is as follows:
On 27 November 2008, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan led a commando team to evict terrorists from the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai and rescued 14 hostages. During the operation, his team came under heavy enemy fire and one of his team members was seriously injured. Major Sandeep pinned down the terrorists with accurate fire and rescued the injured commando. In the process, he was shot in his right arm. Despite the injury, he continued to fight the terrorists till his last breath. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan displayed the most remarkable courage, camaraderie and leadership of the highest order and made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. ”
Sandeep’s mother receives the Ashoka Chakra Award from Indian President Pratibha Patil
die
On November 28, 2008, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan led the NSG commandos through the main entrance of the Taj Mahal Hotel and up the stairs to search for the remaining terrorists inside the hotel. One of Unnikrishnan’s teammates was injured and he asked his teammates to fall back while he continued to track the terrorists. As Sandeep followed the terrorists into the ballroom lobby, he was attacked by the terrorists hiding behind a table and two sofas. Sandeep’s body fell to the ground, twisting his body, and he died of his injuries. Major Khandwal and Major Jasrodiya found his body, riddled with bullets, lying in a pool of his own blood. Major Khandwal then informed Colonel Sheran at the base on his mobile phone that Sandeep was no longer there. He was a member of the 51st SAG (Special Action Group), and his death made others aware of his own mortality.
Facts/Trivia
- On November 29, 2008, the official announcement of Major Sandip Unnikrishnan’s death was made. After the targets were eliminated and officials took control of some areas, the media learned about the casualties. Sandip Unnikrishnan’s funeral was held with military ceremony, and mourners present chanted:
Sandeep Unnikrishnan Amar Rah”
Last Rites of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan
- In memory of Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the road from MS Palya Junction on Doddaballapur Road to Federal-Mogul in Bengaluru was renamed as Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan Road. Earlier, the road was known as Mother Dairy Twin Road. A granite slab with Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s name was also installed at the Ramamurthy Nager Outer Ring Road Junction in Bengaluru. In September 2018, a pickup truck lost control and hit the building, causing damage.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan arrested in Bengaluru
- Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s uncle K. Mohanan was deeply saddened by the way the government and political parties treated the victims of the 26/11 attacks. In February 2011, K. Mohanan committed suicide by setting himself on fire in front of the Parliament. He was rushed to the hospital but his body was 98% burnt and during treatment, he suffered a heart attack and his life could not be saved. He left behind a suicide note which read:
Government officials and political party representatives could not do anything for the victims of 26/11 attacks… Was this really a war against two nations? Was the decision taken by the government after Kandahar the reason for Mumbai attacks? Sandumon (Sandeep Unnikrishnan) As you go by, people have forgotten you, but I cannot. ”
- The November 26 incident has become a horrific event in our country’s history. The incident has inspired many filmmakers to recreate the incident in the form of web series or films, including Ram Gopal Varma’s November 26 Attack (2013) and the ZEE5 web series Black Tornado (2018).
Cover poster of the web drama “Black Tornado”
- In 2020, actor-producer Mahesh Babu, in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, registered two titles – Major and Major Sandeep – with the Producers Guild to make a biopic on the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan. The film’s actors met Sandeep’s parents to get their consent before starting the shoot. The lead role of Sandeep Unnikrishnan is played by actor Adivi Sesh. In an interview, Adivi said:
After the media buzz, many filmmakers contacted them. I promised myself that I would always treat them as my own parents, whether we made the film or not. Sandeep’s mother told me that she saw her son in me. I was so moved that I hugged her for a long time. ”
- The first poster of the film was released on January 29, 2021, and the film will be released on July 2, 2021.
Premiere of the film “Major”
- Sandeep Unnikrishnan is a very energetic and optimistic person. He is a big fan of Sachin Tendulkar. In an interview with The Hindu, his father said:
My son does everything with a winning mentality. He loves Sachin Tendulkar for this reason. Sandeep always wants our country to win. He gets very disappointed whenever India loses a match. He also consoles me whenever ISRO projects fail. He doesn’t like losing.”
Sandeep Unnikrishnan laughs while talking to a colleague
- Sandeep Unnikrishnan is a philanthropic person. In the same interview, his father further added:
I was not aware of this at the time. I came to realise this only after he passed away. Checking his bank balance, I found only Rs 3,000 to 4,000, despite his good salary. I thought he could not save much as he could have bought expensive branded products. But his colleagues talked about his philanthropy. One of his colleagues told me that he borne all the medical expenses of his mother who had spinal problems. Besides, Sandeep also donated regularly to some charities. I came to realise this when I started getting reminders to renew the donations after he passed away.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education