Mumbai: Mumbai police's Sub-Inspector Tukaram Omble died on the mission to capture Ajmal Amir Qasab -- the lone terrorist arrested during the Mumbai terror attacks in Novermber last year. Six months later he is all but forgotten, except in Mumbai.
"He used to say when I am home, I am yours. When I am on duty, I work for the country," said Tukaram's daughter Vaishali.
November 26, 2008 was Vaishali Omble's 22nd birthday and her father was on night duty when the terrorists struck.
As bullets came thick and fast, he and his colleagues rushed towards Girgaum. Seven hours later, his family got the news -- Tukaram had been killed in an encounter but not before he captured a terrorist alive.
The family feels pride but it's tinged with bitterness.
"So much money has been spent on Qasab's security. I wish they had spent that money on upgrading the police force. Police should get bullet-proof jackets. Nothing has happened. Nothing has changed," Vaishali said.
His family has said that the only way to honour his martyrdom would be to recognise the fact that never again does a policemen have to fight AK rifles with lathis.