Covered since 26/11, back on streets soon

The police vehicle in which officers Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar had been travelling on 26/11, before they were ambushed by Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail and shot dead, will be back on the streets soon.

Riddled with bullets, it had been gathering dust under wraps in front of the Unit 1 office of the Crime Branch at the Mumbai Police headquarters at Crawford Market.

The Crime Branch recently wrote to the police's motor transport department asking it to take the Toyota Qualis (MH-01-BA-569) for repairs before it is released for police use.

"We have received a request from the Crime Branch asking us to take over the jeep for repairs. However, we have not brought in the vehicle yet as we have back-referenced the letter to the Crime Branch asking whether the necessary permission from the court has been taken," said DCP (motor transport) K Y Joshi.

"If permission has been taken from the 26/11 court, then we will restore the vehicle to its proper condition and release it to the local police station. It will be back in action shortly if permission is received," said Joshi.

The jeep was the official vehicle of Assistant CP (Pydhonie) Shantilal Bhamre.

"We have obtained permission from the 26/11 court for the repair and re-use. Last July, the ACP of Pydhonie division had moved an application in the 26/11 court asking for the jeep to be returned for his use. The judge had then granted permission for the vehicle to be returned to the Pydhonie police. A bond of Rs 60,000 has also been taken from the ACP before the vehicle is released," said a Crime Branch officer.