Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan served the country in the Indian Army from 1999 to 28 November 2008 in the rank of Major. He attained martyrdom while fighting terrorists in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and on 26 January 2009, he was awarded the Ashok Chakra.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was born on 15 March 1977 in Kozhikode, Kerala, who dedicated his life to the country. He was the only child of his parents and even after that he never shied away from serving the country. The example of his bravery is given to the people even today.
The martyr Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, is being remembered today on his birthday. Major Unnikrishnan was martyred in the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai. His last words during this attack continue to inspire people even today.
Sandeep Unnikrishnan was born into a Malayali family who had come to Bangalore from Cheruvannur, Kozhikode District in the state of Kerala. He was the only son of K. Unnikrishnan, a former ISRO official, and Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan.
Sandeep attended The Frank Anthony Public School in Bangalore for 14 years before graduating in the ISC Science stream in 1995. He aspired to join the Army and wore a crew cut to school. His friends and instructors remembered him as a good athlete who participated in school activities and sporting events. He was also a member of the school chorus and a movie buff.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan had a wife named Neha.
Major Unnikrishnan reached Kargil as a lieutenant and became a part of Operation Vijay. Major Unnikrishnan was with the 7 Bihar Regiment and his companions have not forgotten him to date. Major Sandeep was just 31 years old when the terrorist attack on Mumbai took place on 26 November 2008.
In 1995, Sandeep Unnikrishnan enrolled in the National Defence Academy (India) (NDA) in Pune, Maharashtra. He was a member of the Oscar Squadron (No. 4 Battalion) and a 94th Course NDA graduate. He has a bachelor's degree in arts. His NDA colleagues recall him as "selfless," "kind," and "cool and serene."
He was a member of the 104th regular course at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun. On June 12, 1999, he graduated from IMA and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army's 7th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment (Infantry). During Operation Vijay in July 1999, he was regarded favorably at front positions despite heavy artillery and small arms fire from Pakistani forces. On the evening of December 31, 1999, Sandeep led a squad of six troops in establishing a position 200 meters from the opposing side, under direct sight and fire.
On June 12, 2003, Sandeep Unnikrishnan was promoted to captain, and on June 13, 2005, he was promoted to major. Sandeep completed the 'Ghatak course' (at the Infantry Wing Commando School, Belgaum), which is regarded the most rigorous training in the Indian Army, twice, getting an "Instructor grade" and Commendation.
He was also trained at the Gulmarg High Altitude Warfare School. He was chosen to join the National Security Guards after serving in various locales including Siachen, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat (during the 2002 Gujarat Riots), Hyderabad, and Rajasthan. On completion of his training, he was deployed as the training officer of the NSG's 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG) in January 2007, and he also participated in several NSG missions.
When he reached the second floor during the encounter, the terrorists shot him in the back. Even after being shot, Major Sandeep told his comrades, don't come up, I will handle.
When Major Unnikrishnan was sent to the Kargil War, he was posted on forwarding posts. Here heavy artillery was being fired from the enemy. Pakistani soldiers were continuously attacking Indian soldiers with small arms. After this war, on 31 December 1999, Major Unnikrishnan, with the help of a team of six soldiers, recaptured the post 200 meters away on the LoC, which was forcibly captured by Pakistani troops.