Etched in history: The villains and heroes of 26/11

Ten terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had come to Mumbai and carried out the strikes in which 166 people were killed. Nine of them were killed during the 60-hour siege which began on the night of November 26, 2008. 

Terrorists

Ajmal Kasab

Facing death penalty for the terror attacks Kasab, the sole surviving Pakistani gunman, claimed in the Supreme Court he was brainwashed like a "robot" into committing the heinous crime in the name of "god". Nearly four years after the attack, he was hanged on November 21, 2012 at Yerawada central prison in Pune. Both Central and Maharashtra governments spent around Rs 29.5 crores on Ajmal Kasab to provide him food, security, medicines and clothes.

Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi

At the time of the attacks, Lakhvi was believed to be the operational head of the banned Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT) that has been accused by India of carrying out the attacks in India's financial capital. Lakhvi along with Zarar Shah was allegedly the key planner of the attack.Lakhvi and six others –- Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum –- have been charged with planning and executing the attacks. On December 7, 2008, Pakistan arrested Lakhvi. In April 2015 was released on bail. 

David Headley

David Coleman Headley or Daood Sayed Gilani, a Pakistani-American terrorist, conspired with Lashkar-e-Taiba to plot the attacks. He made five trips to India between 2006 and 2008, to collect all the information that would aid the 10 terrorists and their handlers. Headley was arrested in October 2009 at Chicago's O'Hare Airport on his way back to Pakistan. He is serving a term of 35 years in jail in the US in connection with the case.

Hafeez Saeed

Chief of Jama'at-ud-Da'wah, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, is an internationally designated terrorist. He was instrumental in providing financial support to the perpetrators of 26/11. Jamaat-ud-Dawa is listed as a terror outfit by the UN. There is a $10 million US government bounty on his head.

Police & Military

Hasan Gafoor

The then Police Commissioner of Mumbai received a lot of flak in the aftermath of multi-pronged attack, hence he was removed as the commissioner and promoted to the post of Director General Housing.

Rakesh Maria

Maria was the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), leading the probe into the attack. He was also heading the police control room for some time during the 72-hour siege. Vinita Kamte, widow of Ashok Kamte, had filed a RTI seeking call logs of wireless conversation between the control room and Kamte's van.

Also Read: 26/11 call record case: Bombay High Court provides relief to Rakesh Maria

Hemant Karkare 

Chief of Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad, died fighting terrorists when he was shot thrice in the chest. He was well known for his investigations in Mumbai serial blast case and for leading special investigation of the Malegaon blast. He was honoured posthumously with an Ashoka Chakra for his bravery in the 26/11 attacks.

Vijay Salaskar

This encounter specialist and head of Anti-Extortion Cell was killed by terrorists in the lane between St. Xavier's College and Rang He was in a car travelling from CST towards Cama Hospital with Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and four other constables. He too was awarded Ashoka Chakra posthumously.

Ashok Kamte

Killed along with Hemant Karkare and Vijay Salaskar and commemorated with Ashoka Chakra in the succeeding Republic Day, Kamte was the Additional Commissioner of Police then.

Tukaram Omble

Asst. Sub-inspector and retired army man, he was serving at the police chowki at Girgaum Chowpatty when Ajmal Kasab and his accomplices passed from there. Though he lost his life fighting Kasab, he was instrumental in capturing the sole Pakistani terrorist alive.

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan

Commando of National Security Guards, he lost his life fighting terrorists at Taj Mahal Palace and Towers. Unnikrishnan was heading Operation Black Tornado and was the team commander of 51 SAG in the siege. 

Politicians 

Vilasrao Deshmukh

The then Chief Minister of Maharashtra had to resign in the aftermath of the attacks due to growing public discontent as he was perceived to be inept and insensitive to the sufferings of people when he took his son Riteish Deshmukh and filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma to the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers post the incident. 

RR Patil

Deputy Chief and Home Minister of Maharashtra in 2008, RR Patil received a lot of criticism when he made this statement in a press conference post 26/11, "Aisa nahi hai. Itne bade shahar mein chhota hadsa ho jata hai. To total failure nahi hai". He was forced to resign over comment.