Mumbai: 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.
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 today launched a book written by TV journalist
Jitendra Dixit on the 26/11 terror attacks.
Bureau Report
