For Police Inspector Yogendra Pache, 26/11 was nothing short of a life changing experience. Ten years after the attacks that left 166 dead and over 250 injured over a span of 60 hours, Mr. Pache feels his entire approach towards policing changed during that one night.
Currently posted with the LT Marg police station, Mr. Pache was a police sub-inspector at the time and was posted as reader to the then Additional Commissioner of Police (South region), Dr. K. Venkateshwaram. When the National Security Guard (NSG) stormed the Trident hotel at Nariman Point, Mr. Pache was one of the several police officers assigned the job of rescuing trapped hostages and bringing them to safety.
A decade later, Mr. Pache recalls that they had just rescued a group of hostages from the 19th floor and were descending the fire exit stairs when he heard a faint cry of help from the 11th floor.
Yogendra Pache was one of the police officers assigned the rescuing trapped hostages when the National Security Guard stormed the Trident hotel at Nariman Point.
“We first brought the hostages to safety and then decided to go back up. It was a risky decision as the terrorists were still inside and no one had any idea where they were. But I was sure I had heard someone and six of us, armed only with 9mm pistols, went back in. The decision was so hurried that, unlike the previous time, we did not even have the time to inform the NSG. It struck us later that without prior information, even the NSG commandos might mistake us for terrorists and shoot us in the panic and chaos,” Mr. Pache said.
On the 11th floor, the team had a hurried, whispered consultation since none of them knew the layout of the hotel, and had no idea what lay beyond the door. Gathering courage, they pushed the door open and found themselves inside the Tiffin Restaurant.
The team had to stay low to avoid being seen. Sounds of frequent gunshots and grenades could be heard from above. They started crawling on the floor which was strewn with bodies, checking each one for signs of life.
“Finally we came across a woman partially buried under other bodies. I stared hard and that same instant, she blinked. That was my confirmation,” Mr. Pache said.
Quickly, the team moved the other bodies aside and picked up the woman, Reshma Kiyani, whose arms were damaged due to a grenade blast, and she also had bullet wounds on her legs. Working as fast, and as quietly, as possible, they brought her out of the hotel and into a waiting ambulance, which rushed her to Bombay Hospital.
Mr. Pache said that while infrastructure, lack of knowledge, and the fact that nobody ever imagined that an attack of this kind was possible did prove to be hindrances, the police force did not lack when it came to initiative or courage.
“I know of colleagues who were on sick leave but rushed to south Mumbai the minute they heard about the attacks. Every single policeman did his duty that night,” he said.
The experience has instilled in Mr. Pache a heightened focus for safety and security. He has subsequently served at other postings, including the Railway and city police, but has never forgotten the lessons learned that night.
“Every call, about every firing or unclaimed bag, would trigger the same memories. I would respond with the sole objective of preventing another such attack. Further, I make sure I stay fighting fit,” Mr. Pache, who takes a personal interest in the working of the Anti Terror Cell of the LT Marg police station, said.
Mr. Pache is still in touch with Ms. Kiyani and her family.
“After the attacks, I went to visit her at the hospital. I was dressed in a uniform and a bullet proof vest that night, and my face was grimy. Despite that, when I walked into her room, she recognised me. Even though she was unable to speak, her eyes said a lot,” he said.
Mr. Pache was awarded the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry for his role in the attacks. He also received the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service this year.
