Justice done: Sandeep’s dad

The father of Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the NSG commando slain in the 26/11 attacks, said that Ajmal Kasab’s hanging has done justice to those who lost lives in the Mumbai terror attacks.

“His (Kasab) hanging is justice done for those who lost their lives on the night of 26/11. I won’t say the same for my son and other security personnel. They were just performing their duties,” K Unnikrishnan said.

A former officer at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Unnikrishnan said he has no qualms about the country’s legal system. “Still,” he said, “the hanging could have been done two years ago.”

Recollecting his interactions with Sandeep after he joined infantry 10 years ago, Unnikrishnan said: “It was his personal choice to join the armed forces. I have asked him several times why we need to spend crores on defence, when the same money can be spent on education and health. After all, in a global village, it is believed that there is no religion or borders. But then, I think those three days (November 26-28) proves it wrong.”

Unnikrishnan revealed that his health was not so good of late, but he wants to live for as long as he can.

“I want to live a long life so that I can talk about Sandeep. We should not forget the sacrifice made by him and others,” he said.

On November 26, Unnikrishnan will unveil Sandeep’s statue near K R Puram here. He will be travelling to Mumbai and New Delhi to attend 26/11 memorial services and other remembrance programmes.

Unnikrishnan also has plans to pen a book on his interactions with Sandeep.