Mumbai Attack VI

'Rescue efforts had hit language barrier'

CHANDIGARH: As a member of the National Security Guards team that cracked down on terrorists in Mumbai, Sunil Kumar Yadav, the 29-year-old Armyman
from Pataudi is out of danger, but he is still fighting the demons of post-26/11.

Yadav, who is recuperating from injuries he suffered during the operation at the Taj hotel, says while fighting the terrorists, hitting a language barrier was something the ace NSG commandos least expected. "More than killing the terrorists, it was rescuing a foreigner that proved to be difficult,'' Yadav told TOI on Tuesday.

Home again, the Haryana commando, who spent six of his eight years of service in Army in Jammu & Kashmir, recalled the hours inside the Taj. "This (foreigner) lady was causing quite a tumult inside the room but wouldn't open the door. So, we had to break it open. We found her huddled under the bed. But she refused to come out, taking us for terrorists. I had to summon a guide from the hotel to explain things to her,'' he says.

Rated as one of the best NSG commandos within a year of his duty with the organisation, Yadav and his team rescued more than 150 hostages from the Taj. "Inside (the hotel), it was worse than encounters we have in the Kashmir valley. We had no idea which rooms the terrorists were in and saving the civilians was a priority."

Part of the team led by Maj Sandeep Unnikrishanan, Yadav was the first commando to get injured in the operation. "On the (November) 27th evening, a woman was injured in the terrorist attack on the third floor. I was hit while trying to pull her to saftey. Two bullets hit my ribs and another crossed through my jacket.'' He has only one regret, he couldn't fight for his country till the end.

"We are proud of him," says his mother Rajesh Yadav, adding, "My heart started beating fast when I came to know that he had been shot. I wanted to fly out to be with him.''

For now, the braveheart is happy to be with his family and a two-year-old son. But he secretly hopes he recovers soon and goes back to doing what he does the best