Sandeep Unnikrishnan, AC (Ashoka Chakra) was an Indian Army officer. He was assigned as the training officer of the 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG) of NSG, in January 2007 and also participated in various operations of the NSG. On November 2008, he was martyred in action during the Mumbai attacks. On 26 January 2009, he was awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award.
Sandeep Unnikrishnan's Early Life and Background
- Name : Sandeep Unnikrishnan
- Birthday : 15th March, 1977
- Father Name : K. Unnikrishnan
- Mother Name : Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan
- Wife Name : Neha Unnikrishnan
- Rank : Major
- Service : Indian Army
- Years of service : 1999-2008
- Service number : IC-58660
- Battles : Operation Vija, Operation Parakram, Operation Rakshak, Counter-Insurgency, Operation Black Tornado
- Death : 28th Nov, 2008
Sandeep Unnikrishnan came from a Malayali family. They had moved from Kozhikode, Kerala to Bangalore. He was the son of retired ISRO officer.
He showed interest in joining the Indian Army from his childhood. He finished his schooling from The Frank Anthony Public School, Bangalore. He was graduated in 1995 in the ISC Science stream.
Military career
He was the part of 104th regular course in Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. Sandeep Unnikrishnan graduated from IMA and got commissioned as Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment of Indian Army on 12th June, 1999.
In the Kargil war of 1999, he stood at the forward posts with his team in the face of heavy artillery firing and small arms fire by Pakistan troops. He established a post 200 metres from the opposing side and under direct observation and fire on the evening of 31st Dec,1999 with his team of six soldiers.
Sandeep Unnikrishnan promoted to captain on 12 June 2003, followed by promotion to major on 13 June 2005. He topped the "Ghatak Course" twice earning an "Instructor grading" and Commendation.
He was selected to join the National Security Guards after serving in different locations including Siachen, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Hyderabad and Rajasthan. In January 2007, he was assigned as the training officer of the 51 Special Action Group of NSG.
Operation Black Tornado
Several buildings in South Mumbai were attacked on the night of 26 November 2008 by the group of terrorists. “Operation Black Tornado” was the code name given by National Security Guard to the operation. The primary objective of the NSG was to rescue hostages. After which they could eliminate the terrorists.
The iconic 100-year-old Taj Mahal Palace Hotel was one of the buildings where hostages were held. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was deployed in the hotel to rescue the hostages as the team commander of 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG).
The 51 SAG group of 10 commandos entered the hotel and reached the sixth floor through staircase. After evacuating hostages from the sixth and fifth floors, they suspected terrorists in a room on fourth floor, which was locked from the inside. The terrorists started firing as soon as the commandos broke the door and the bullet hit both the legs of commando Sunil Kumar Yadav. Sandeep Unnikrishnan managed to save and evacuate Yadav, but terrorists disappeared after blasting a grenade inside the room.
For around 15 hours, they continued evacuating hostages from the hotel. On 27 November midnight, terrorists ambushed NSG team when they saw commandos coming up through the central staircase in which Commando Sunil Kumar Jodha was seriously injured. Sandeep Unnikrishnan manage to evacuate him.
Sandeep Unnikrishnan then decided to chase terrorists alone, as they were trying to escape to the next floor. He managed to corner all four terrorists but got several bullet shots and lost his life. According to the NSG officials his last words were, "Don't come up, I will handle them". NSG commandos later killed all four terrorists of the Mumbai Taj hotel.
Funeral
Thousands of people lined up outside his Bangalore house to pay their respects. At Unnikrishnan's Funeral, Mourners Chanted "Sandeep Unnikrishnan Amar Rahe".
Awards
- Ashoka Chakra
- Operation Parakram medal
- Special Service Medal
- Sainya Seva Medal
- High Altitude Service Medal
- 9 Years Long Service Medal
Honour and Legacy
A bust of Sandeep Unnikrishnan is installed on Ramamurthy Nagar and in the center of Housing complex in Bangalore and his bust is installed at the entrance of Indian Education Society on Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road, Mumbai.
The Mother Dairy Double Road in Bengaluru, was renamed Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan Road in his honour.
