A village in Maharashtra initially named as Sultanpur has now been renamed to Rahul Nagar , in memory of Rahul Shinde , a native of the village, who sacrificed his life while fighting terrorists during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008.
As per reports the village in Maharashtra has a population of around 1,000 and 600 houses. The local residents have decided to rename their village and dedicate it to the martyr Rahul Sinde . Rahul Shinde was a constable of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) who was killed in the Mumbai terror attack 14 years ago. Rahul Shinde was amongst the first group of police personnel to enter the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in south Mumbai after reports of firing by terrorists. During the operation, Rahul Shinde was hit with a bullet in his stomach by terrorists and he lost his life.
Rahul Shinde, was a resident of the Sultanpur village in the Madha taluka of the Solapur district in Maharashtra. After he attained martyrdom, the government honoured him by conferring the President’s Police Medal on him posthumously for his supreme sacrifice. The residents of his native place Sultanpur have decided to rename their village after him as a mark of honour and to keep his memories alive . However as per reports , the official renaming ceremony is yet to take place.
According to Subhash Vishnu Shinde, father of late Rahul Shinde , “All the government formalities for renaming the village have been completed . We are now waiting for the final confirmation of dates for the official renaming ceremony to happen.
He also said Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Vishwas Nangre Patil who was then deputy commissioner of police (zone-I)of Mumbai helped him in the process.
Subhas Vishnu Shinde Further said that “I had been working and following up with the government on it for the last 10 years. Finally it has happened . I am satisfied now and don’t want anything else. I feel honoured and proud that this village will be known by the name of my son,” he said.
While narrating about his martyred son, Subhas Shinde said that his son showed courage while fighting against terrorists and sacrificed himself for the country. “Rahul’s mother is still bearing the trauma of losing her son. She has not been able to accept that Rahul is no more,” he said.
“After Rahul’s demise, the government provided us with financial help as per rules. We also got a flat in Mumbai and a gas agency at the taluka place, which helps the family earn a living,” he said.
As per reports, the Shinde family is also involved in farming.
Subhash Shinde, has two more children – a son and a daughter and he now lives with his younger son, who got married a few years ago.
In 2010 , the Shinde family also set up a memorial of Rahul in the village.
Today on this day of 26/11, the world joins India in remembering its victims. As this day marks 14 years of the 26/11 attack , Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday paid floral tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives while fighting terrorists who had attacked Mumbai on this day 14 years ago.
On November 26, 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from Pakistan arrived by sea route and opened fire, killing 166 people, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others during a 60-hour siege in Mumbai.
During the attack, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Hotel, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital and the Nariman House Jewish community centre, now renamed Nariman Light House, were some of the places targeted by terrorists.
During the operation , 9 terrorists were later killed by the security forces, including the NSG, the country’s elite commando force. Ajmal Kasab was the only terrorist who was captured alive. He was hanged four years later on November 21, 2012.
